The common rough-scaled lizard is medium in size and well distributed in parts of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Angola, Tanzania, and Zambia.

[4] They dig branching burrows in the soft sand usually at the base of Acacia trees that may be shared with several individuals.

[2] These lizards are insectivorous and actively hunt during the day feeding on termites, grasshoppers, beetles and other small insects.

[5] Since 1854, the common rough-scaled sand lizard was classified under the genus Ichnotropis, determined through morphological characteristics.

[3] Phylogenetic evidence of the common rough-scaled sand lizard was found in 2007, but was not accepted due to incomplete taxon sampling for Ichnotropis.