Head and neck: dark brown with pale red or orange markings; top of head reddish brown; throat may have a longitudinal stripe or uniformly dark brown; clearly visible large scales (shields) on the top and back side of the head; upper jaw ends in a hook.
Body:
Carapace - dark brown, elongated, domed; median keel may be present along the along the length of the vertebral scutes; marginal scutes serrated but smooth out with age.
Plastron - yellowish brown with radiating lines; rounded notch on anal scutes.
Limbs and tail: Limbs dark brown with minute orange spots and enlarged scales; five claws on forefeet; four claws on hindfeet; tail is short.