Color is highly variable, evenaong hatchlings from the same clutch. Typically, they have a bold bandscircling their body primarily of bright gold, green and blue mixed withyellow, orange or black. Very long cones on the gular crest. C. c. calcarifer Similar to C. calyptratus but with smaller casque. They are born with tarsal spur which, being visible at hatching, makes sexing quite simple.
Males are usually thin in appearance.
Their coloring is generally a light green with adults bearing some mottling of small spots which may be white, gold or light blue appearing on their dorsal crests. Unlike males, females are heavily bodied when mature. Hatchlings are less than one inch SVL at hatching, and are barely bigger at one month. Young veileds will grow faster if kept in a large enclosure out of doors. Like opossums, it takes a considerable time until they feel secure enough to unfold and begin moving about again.