The brittle snake has a fat body and large symmetrical scales on the top of its head. The forehead scales are the largest, nearly shield-shaped, wide in front and rear. The frontal scales are tangent to a pair of nearly diamond-shaped forehead scales. One nasal scale, the outer nostril opens in the middle and rear of the nasal scale. There are 11-12 cheek scales, of different sizes, shapes, and irregular arrangement. There are 5 scales on the upper eyelashes, and there are smooth scales of different sizes around the eyes and on the eyelids.

12 temporal scales (4+4+4), neatly arranged, from eye to eye The rear is arranged radially. The tympanic membrane is retracted and the outer ear hole is small. The snout scales are nearly triangular. Throat, neck and abdomen are smooth round scales arranged in imbricate.