The specific name, caesaris, is in honor of German malacologist Caesar Rudolf Boettger, who was a nephew of German herpetologist Oskar Boettger.

[3] G. caesaris is native to two of the western Canary Islands, El Hierro and La Gomera.

[2] On the neighboring islands Tenerife and La Palma it is replaced by its close relative Gallotia galloti.

[4] G. caesaris has been introduced by humans on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

[5] The preferred natural habitats of G. caesaris are rocky areas, shrubland, and forest, at altitudes from sea level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft).