The average adult Awo is 2 meters tall, not including their meter tall antlers, and can weigh anywhere from 300 to 550 kilograms. They are covered in short yet shaggy fur, with bodies in shades of brown and heads in black and dark. They possess a short tail that can be comfortably tucked into pants or trousers, black eyes, and fangs like those of the water deer, though the Awo's are fully retractable. They have digitigrade legs that end in cloven hooves, and four arms. Their upper set of hands have three fingers, including opposable thumbs; and the lower set have four fingers, with opposable thumbs and little fingers. All fingers end in thick, pointed fingernails, often textured similarly to their antlers.

Awo experience estrus rather than menses. All members of the species have both antlers and breasts, but breasts remain flat unless pregnant or nursing.