The specific name, cottrelli, is in honor of South African ornithologist John Awdry Cottrell, who collected the holotype.

[3] T. cottrelli is found in Lesotho and South Africa.

[2] The preferred natural habitat of T. cottrelli is grassland, at altitudes of 2,500–3,300 m (8,200–10,800 ft).

Adults have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 5.5–6.5 cm (2.2–2.6 in).

This lizard from family Lacertidae article is a stub.