Small (up to 15 cm CL) turtle with highly variable carapace pattern of yellow or orange markings on dark background. Plastron tan or brown. Well-developed plastral hinge separates pectoral and abdominal scutes and allows shell to be closed completely. Male differs from female by having concave plastron and red rather than brown eyes. Carapace of hatchling round, brown, with pronounced keel and one yellow spot on each pleural and vertebral scute; plastron with dark central figure bordered by yellow.