This great saurian, when adult, easily reaches the 140cm of length per 3-4kg of weight.

It has a basic black colouration contrasted by more or less large flour-coloured spots, the scales, unlike the other tegus, are spherical to make the idea similar to those of the monster of Genoa.
There is a particular geographic morph, called chacoan (White headed), in which the head is very clear, presents very white.
While it was recently discovered by an American breeder, a genetic mutation called black head, in which much of the head is black.