[1] It is named after Giuseppe Colosi, former director of the Zoological Institute of the University of Florence.

The IUCN gives it Least Concern status because, although its range is less than 20,000 km2 (7,700 mi2), its habitat is extensive and is not severely threatened.

Its general abundance is not well known, but it lives in semi-arid or sub-humid areas up to an altitude of 1,500 m (4,900 ft).

It is most commonly found in rocky areas such as stone heaps or slopes with loose soil and partial grass cover.

Although similar to the ocellated skink, C. ocellatus, C. colosii can be distinguished by its lack of ocelli and its dark lateral bands.