Dorsal scales are large, rectangular, and keeled. Massive, strong shoulders. Slender, long tail. Mainly brown or greyish-olive with irregular dark brown spots or bars. Can change colors to red, blue, iridescent green, and black hues.
Males have orange or crimson head and neck during the breeding season.
In jungle shrubs and trees, in high temperature and humidity. Males become strongly territorial during the breeding season. Develop orange or crimson on head and neck. Inflates throat dewlap, turns sideways, and bobs head up and down. He becomes pale yellowish or flesh-colored with a conspicuous black patch on each side of the throat.