Adults of
Craspedocephalus puniceus may attain a total length of , which includes a
prehensile tail long. Dorsally,
C. puniceus is gray, brown, or red, with dark blotches or crossbars, which may merge to form an undulating stripe. On each side of the head, behind the eye, is a light streak. Ventrally, it is powdered with dark brown, and usually has lateral series of yellowish spots. Scalation includes 21–23 rows of
dorsal scales at midbody, 158–173
ventral scales, 41–56
subcaudal scales, and 10–13
supralabial scales. The dorsal scales are weekly keeled, and the anal plate is entire. ==Venom==