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Species authority page

Rough-tailed gecko

Cyrtopodion scabrum · Lizards · Reptiles

Rough-tailed gecko (Cyrtopodion scabrum). This profile does not establish whether taking it is legal anywhere.

Check rules for a place and dateOpen the rough-tailed gecko map

Certified rules currently represented in Hunt: coverage in development. This is coverage, not a legal answer.

Scientific name
Cyrtopodion scabrum
Family
Gekkonidae
In North America
Introduced
Range
Native from Egypt and the Middle East to western India; established through introduction in Texas (Galveston shipping docks), Arizona, California and Nevada (Center for North American Herpetology, citing SSAR); NatureServe lists Arizona and Texas as exotic.
Field knowledge

Where it lives

Rock piles and escarpments in the native range; in Texas, the upper walls of dockside buildings, inside and out. [1][2]

Field knowledge

How it behaves

Active on warm nights (NatureServe). [1][2]

A sample from Galveston, Texas in mid-September showed hatchlings, juveniles and adults present. [1][2]

Regulatory handoff

Where it is listed for removal or nuisance take

These authorities list this species as nuisance, invasive or unprotected wildlife that may be taken. This is not a game season.

Where legal take is listed

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.

Geospatial intelligence

Where it is found

Native from Egypt and the Middle East to western India; established through introduction in Texas (Galveston shipping docks), Arizona, California and Nevada (Center for North American Herpetology, citing SSAR); NatureServe lists Arizona and Texas as exotic.

Biology

Sources

Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.

  1. NatureServe · reviewed 2026-09-30

    NatureServe

  2. Center for North American Herpetology · reviewed 2026-09-30

    Center for North American Herpetology