C. ceylonensis is a colorful, arboreal agamid.
The length of the head is one and half times the width.
The body is laterally compressed.
The tail is long and slender, about or over twice the head-body length.
The cheeks are swollen.
Two separated spines can be seen above the tympanum.
The nuchal crest is formed with low spines.
Midbody scale rows number 54–60.

The dorsum is brown, with indistinct brown crossbands.
The head and anterior part of body are blackish-brown.
There is a bright red or reddish-orange stripe on the upper lip that extends to the back of the head.
When the lizard is threatened, or agitated by stress, the brown-colored lip turns to a bright white color, as does the dorso-nuchal crest.
The throat of adult males is black.
The tail is brown with dark crossbands.
The venter is pale brown with darker crossbands.
C. ceylonensis is a colorful, arboreal agamid. The length of the head is one and half times the width. The body is laterally compressed. The tail is long and slender, about or over twice the head-body length. The cheeks are swollen. Two separated spines can be seen above the tympanum. The nuchal crest is formed with low spines. Midbody scale rows number 54–60.
The dorsum is brown, with indistinct brown crossbands. The head and anterior part of body are blackish-brown. There is a bright red or reddish-orange stripe on the upper lip that extends to the back of the head. When the lizard is threatened, or agitated by stress, the brown-colored lip turns to a bright white color, as does the dorso-nuchal crest. The throat of adult males is black. The tail is brown with dark crossbands. The venter is pale brown with darker crossbands.
Calotes ceylonensis