Keys out as P. bequaerti according to Spawls et al. 2018 (Field Guide to East African Reptiles, 2nd edition), solely due to the lack of keels on subcaudals; otherwise would key as semivariegatus. However, despite the lack of keels on subcaudals it otherwise matches semivariegatus, including blue tongue with black tip, blue-white (not white) concealed spots, and relatively larger eye with shallower head.