Elaphe sauromates was distinguished from E. quatuorlineata, of which it was previously a subspecies, on the basis of high genetic divergence (Lenk et al. 2001). While this has since largely been accepted (Jablonski et al. 2019), the name E. quatuorlineata has however been used in recent literature referring to populations outside the range of this species as now understood (e.g. Moldova - Tsurcan 2016, Romania - Popescu et al. 2013), and these are treated here as referring to E. sauromates.

Global and European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

This species is endemic to Europe, where it is present in Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean zones from peninsula Italy east to most of Greece, with the majority of its distribution in the EU 27. It is assessed as Least Concern on the basis of its wide range and because threats are limited in the larger portion of its range, in Italy and Greece. It is nevertheless under heavy pressure in the remainder of its distribution, much of which lies outside the European Union.

This species is endemic to Europe, where it is present in Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean zones in much of central and southern Italy (excluding Sicily), and in the Balkan region, ranging from Slovenia southwards along the Adriatic coastline (including some Adriatic islands), into much of Albania, North Macedonia (mainly in the lowlands), extreme southwest Bulgaria, southernmost Serbia, Montenegro and Greece (where it occurs in most of the country except the northeast, including many Ionian and Aegean islands) (Speybroeck et al. 2016).

It is found from sea level up to 1,400 m asl (Speybroeck et al. 2016). Records from a number of Greek islands, including Milos, are in error or of doubtful validity (Speybroeck et al. 2016).

It is not a common species. It occurs at low densities in Tuscany, but is still present in all known localities that have been recently surveyed (G. Radi pers. comm. 2022) and is presumed not to be in decline. Although secretive, it seems to be quite common in semi-urban areas not far from Pisa (M. Zuffi pers. comm. 2022). Some Greek island subpopulations may be under some pressure, but it does not appear to be undergoing widespread declines in Greece (P. Lymberakis pers. comm. 2022). Based on records taken over the past 20 years during active research in Apulia, Basilicata and Calabria (Italy) it appears to be stable in inland areas, especially in the hills, but in marked decline in coastal plains where urban expansion is extensive (C. Luizzi pers. comm. 2022).

Conversely it appears to be in decline in the northern part of its Italian range (C. Corti pers. comm. 2022) and is considered to be under heavy pressure throughout the Balkans north of Greece, as its optimal habitat is favoured for rapid development (J. Crnobrnja-Isailović pers. comm. 2022). Declines have been detected in the metropolitan areas of Lazio and in well-studied areas of Abruzzo, and also in some areas of central Tuscia (northern Lazio) which were historically locally important for this snake (V. Ferri pers. comm. 2022). Despite an increase in targeted herpetological research in Italy it is not possible to fully evaluate the status of this species in Lazio, however the numbers of sightings are progressively declining here even in largely natural habitat, potentially driven by persecution and increasing levels of habitat degradation and predation pressure (Ferri et al. in prep.).

It is found in hedgerows, close to woodland edges, in open woodland, rocky overgrown areas and traditionally cultivated land. Animals may also be found near waterbodies but also away from them. It favours Mediterranean biotopes with "ample vegetation", often in relatively humid areas but in drier habitats on the Greek islands (Speybroeck et al. 2016). Animals tend to have very large home ranges. The females lay between 6 and 16 eggs (Geniez 2018). Animals reach maturity in the third or fourth year (Biserkov 2007), and the generation length may be four to five years.

It may be threatened by habitat loss due to the intensification of agricultural practices and infrastructure development for tourism and urbanisation, especially in the Balkan countries outside the EU where the humid, shaded habitats it prefers are under "intense anthropogenic pressure" (J. Crnobrnja-Isailović pers. comm. 2022). Expansion of run-of-river small hydropower plants throughout the hilly parts of the Balkan peninsula could indirectly, through an overall decrease in the humidity in its preferred microhabitats, negatively impact local subpopulations of this species (Crnobrnja-Isailović et al. 2021), as it is especially reliant on humid situations. In Italy threats to its habitat include land clearance for agricultural or tourist developments, agricultural intensification, removal and burning of hedges and shrubland, and abandonment of pastures (Pellegrini et al. 2016). Road mortality has been recorded, and roads also fragment habitat (Pellegrini et al. 2016). These authors suggest that accumulation of pesticides in prey may also negatively affect the species, although population-level impacts of pollutants on snakes are poorly-studied.

Outside the European Union the species is found in shaded situations in Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean areas, often close to freshwater or the sea. These areas are favoured for extensive tourist development, particularly in coastal areas and along lakes, and the species is subject to ongoing habitat fragmentation and degradation as a result (J. Crnobrnja-Isailović pers. comm. 2022). Along the coast, aggressive urbanisation is associated with the rapid clearance of marshes and Mediterranean forests (J. Crnobrnja-Isailović pers. comm. 2022). In Serbia, the species has a very restricted distribution in an area which is subject to heavy exploitation of natural resources. Suitable forest habitats for this species are consequently under heavy pressure, and logging and forest fires are observed with increasing frequency (J. Crnobrnja-Isailović pers. comm. 2022).

It is persecuted by humans in many parts of its range, and although inoffensive is feared more than vipers in some areas perhaps due to its large size (J. Crnobrnja-Isailović pers. comm. 2022). In Greece it is persecuted especially in agricultural areas as it is a predator of chicken eggs, and is commonly found as roadkill, but these are not believed to be major threats and the species is not expected to be subject to widespread threats on the Greek mainland (P. Lymberakis pers. comm. 2022). Persecution is also ongoing in Italy, particularly of younger individuals which resemble vipers (V. Ferri pers. comm. 2022), although conversely it may be afforded some local protection in areas where the animal is used in religious rites (in which animals are not killed, and the species used are respected) (Pellegrini et al. 2016).

The species is prey for Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), which is native but whose populations are increasing in much of Europe (V. Ferri pers. comm. 2022).

This species is harvested locally for use in religious and cultural ceremonies, such as an annual saint's statue parade in San Domenico (Achille 2015). It was reported at a European reptile fair in 1998 (Auliya 2003), but does not appear to be in the pet trade in any significant numbers.

It is listed in Annex II of the Bern Convention. It occurs in some protected areas throughout its range, although implementation of nature conservation standards is often poor in many areas of the Balkans outside the EU (J. Crnobrnja-Isailović pers. comm. 2022). It was assessed as Near Threatened for the National Red Lists of Croatia (Jelić et al. 2012) and of North Macedonia (Sterijovski and Arsovski 2020), Vulnerable in the national Red List of the Bosnian Federation (Lelo et al. 2016), Endangered in the national Red Lists of Slovenia (Anonymous 2010) and Bulgaria (Beshkov 2011), and Critically Endangered in the national Red Lists of Albania (Anonymous 2013) and Serbia (Tomović et al. 2015). It is listed as Least Concern in Greece (Legakis et al. 2009) and Italy (Rondinini et al. 2022). Protection of sites and ensuring the maintenance of suitable habitat where the species is known to persist is recommended, and ensuring habitat connectivity (including wildlife tunnels across or beneath roads), in Italy (Pellegrini et al. 2016). Periodic monitoring and intensification of survey efforts in Abruzzo are also proposed by these authors. Legislation at European, national and regional scales to reduce pollution is expected to benefit this species (Pellegrini et al. 2016).