The species is endemic to Cape Verde, where it occurs in the island of Santo Antão.

[2] The species was named by Hans Hermann Schleich in 1984.

The specific name caboverdiana refers to Cape Verde, the type locality.

[2] This species activity pattern is strictly nocturnal in their habitat.

The former subspecies Tarentola caboverdiana substituta, Tarentola caboverdiana nicolauensis and Tarentola caboverdiana raziana have been elevated to separate species status by Vasconcelos, Perera, Geniez, Harris & Carranza in 2012.