U. liura is found in southern India, in the Madura and Tinnevelly Hills, at elevations of 3,000–5,000 ft (910–1,520 m).

The preferred natural habitat of U. liura is forest, but it has also been found in cardamom and tea plantations.

[1] The dorsum of U. liura is purplish brown, with each scale darker-edged, and with transverse series of small yellow black-edged ocelli.

The venter and sides have large alternating black and yellow spots or crossbands.

The rostral is about ⅓ the length of the shielded part of the head, and the portion visible from above is as long as its distance from the frontal.