Bulkhead snakes are medium-sized snakes, with a total length of 810-1500 mm, with a maximum size of 1500 mm. The head is large and the neck is thin, and the head and neck are clearly distinguished; the eyes are large and the pupils are oval. 8 (2-2-4) or 10 (2-2-6, 2-3-3, 2-3-5) scales of upper lip; 2 (3) preorbital scales, 1 (2 or 2 retroorbital scales) 3) pieces; temporal scales are small. The dorsal scales are smooth and oblique, 21(23, 25)-19(21)-17(15) rows, the ridge scales are not obviously enlarged; there are 227-243 abdominal scales, 2 anal scales, and 112-154 pairs of subcaudal scales.

The back of the snake is brown, brown-grey or russet, and the midline of the back is decorated with black or dark brown Large spots, there are 1 row of small spots staggered on both sides of the large spot; the ventral surface is dark white or yellowish brown, decorated with irregular markings. There are short black longitudinal stripes from the tip of the snout to the back edge of the forehead scales, and brown stripes from the back of the eyes to the corners of the mouth.