The
dorsum of
U. nitida is black. The venter is black with distant yellow crossbands, which are usually broken at the midline and alternating, but sometimes meet to form complete crossbands. Adults may attain in total length (including tail). The
dorsal scales are smooth, and are arranged in 17 rows at midbody, in 19 rows behind the head. The
ventrals number 184-195, and the
subcaudals number 5-11. The snout is obtusely pointed. The
rostral is about ⅓ the length of the shielded part of the head. The portion of the rostral visible from above is longer than its distance from the
frontal. The
nasals are in contact with each other behind the rostral. The frontal is as long as broad or slightly longer than broad. The eye is small, its diameter less than ½ the length of the ocular shield. The diameter of body goes 30 to 35 times into the total length. The ventrals are two times as broad as the contiguous scales. The tail is round or slightly flattened dorsally, with the terminal dorsal scales strongly pluricarinate. The terminal scute has a transverse ridge and two points. ==Reproduction==