The Large Psammodromus has an average length of about 19cm more than half of which is their tail. Females are frequently larger than males and they can grow to 25cm. Their body is covered in pronounced keeled scales which give them a rough appearance unlike the smooth appearance of most other lizards in France. The back of their body is copper brown with two light bands which run for the length of their  body on the flanks; the upper band is bordered with a dark line. Underside is pale with a tint of yellow or green. They have long limbs with long clawed digits. During the breeding season the males have vivid blue spots around the shoulders.

Only found in the Mediterranean zone in France where they occupy habitats comprising open green oak woodlands, open mixed woodland with clearings, dense scrub and occasionally coastal dunes. Diet is almost totally insects.

They are diurnal, somewhat nervous and will rapidly flee, often burying themselves in sand or other ground debris. Hibernation tends to be from November until February in France. Reproduction is from March until May and it’s usual for a female to produce about 8 eggs, these are buried by her in soft material, soil, sand or decomposing vegetation which then hatch about 10 weeks later.