Classification:Introduced Species - In the United States, C. scabrum has been introduced in Arizona and Texas. A breeding population has been established in Galveston, Texas, in the area of the commercial shipping docks.
Description:Following from The Reptile Database: Digits clawed, slender, distal two or three phalanges make an angle with the proximal portion of the digits; a single series of smooth transverse subdigital lamellae; end of digit weakly or not at all laterally compressed; generally three or more rows of lateral scales on digits; no fringes or denticulations on lateral digital scales; longitudinal concavity in frontal region of head, as a rule, absent or weakly developed; usually not more than 30 scales between centers of eyes; pupil vertical with lobed anterior and posterior margins; usually two or three pairs of postmental shields, the first pair usually in contact behind the mental; males with preanal and/or femoral pores; segmentation of tail pronounced.
“Medium size geckos, body moderately depressed, tail quadrangular, a little longer than body with gradual taper, segmented, fragile at any point; caudal tubercles in three dorso-lateral rows, flat, laterally flared strongly keeled, mucronate, mostly overlapping laterally; supraciliary spines present on the posterior dorsal part of the upper eyelids; dorsal granular scales flat, smooth or keeled or mixed, imbricate, more or less transversally arranged, interspersed with large, typical trihedral to triangular tubercles, arranged in longitudinal rows; 13 to 20 heterogeneous interorbital scales; scales across midabdomen 16 to 40; midventral scales 85 to 156; postfemoral tubercles present; preanal pores 4 to 9 in male, species with femoral pores have preanal and femoral pores in a continuous series of 15 to 24 pores; subcaudals less than twice broader than high, arranged in a single series, two subcaudals under a segment (subcaudals in two series in kachhense). Subcaudals lined laterally by two rows of elongated scales; limbs and digits moderately long, finger tips reach between eye and nostril, subdigital lamellae narrow does not extend across the width of the digits, when viewed from ventral side two rows of lateral digital scales are visible.”
Habitat: Rock piles and escarpments; in Texas, upper walls of dockside buildings. This species is found in rocky coastal areas. It occurs in stony areas, on gravelly plains, moderately sandy desert with sparse vegetation, dry wadis and in dry grasslands. It can be found in urban areas, villages and on building walls and ruins. In general, this is a very anthropophilic species.
Range:C. scabrum is found in Afghanistan, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sinai/Tor, Sudan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Status: This species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a high degree of habitat modification, presumed large population, the absence of significant threats. It has successfully colonized areas where it has been introduced and its population is increasing.
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Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the United States is a party, wildlife statutes, regulations, and any applicable notices that have been published in the Federal Register. For further information on U.S. legal requirements with respect to protected taxa, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.