Distinguished by the high vertebral count (total 142, predorsal 12, preanal 42, precaudal 58), combined with the distinctive saddle-shaped pigmentation on the nape of the neck; overall coloration is much lighter than its congeners with the dorsal pigmentation being light brown to tan rather than the dark brown to grayish brown and ventral tip of its tail is relatively unpigmented rather than dark brown to black (Ref. 106145).