The specific epithet, tetraspis, means "four shields", and derives from the Ancient Greek τετρα (four) and ασπίς (shield), as the back of the neck has four large, shield-like scales.
O epíteto específico tetraspis, significa "catro escudos", do grego antigo τετρα 'catro' e ασπίς 'escudo', xa que na parte dorsal do pescozo ten catro grandes escamas de tipo escudo.