The specific status of Phrynocephalus melanurus has until recently been uncertain. This taxon has often been treated as a distinct species (e.g. Sindaco and Jeremčenko 2008), but it is considered a junior synonym of P. guttatus salenskyi by Mezhzherin and Golubev (1993) and as a subspecies of P. guttatus (Phrynocephalus guttatus ssp. melanurus Eichwald, 1831) by Barabanov and Ananjeva (2007), and this is how the taxon is treated currently by The Reptile Database (Uetz et al. 2021).

Dunayev (2009) upheld the distinctness of P. melanurus on biogeographical grounds, and recognized populations from the northern and southeastern parts of the Aral Sea region as P. g. moltschanovi, from the south Balkhash Lake region and Alakol Depression as P. kuschakewitschi, and from the Ili River Depression as P. g. alpherakii. Solovyeva et al. (2014) later investigated the genetics of this species complex, and supported the recognition of P. alpherakii and P. moltschanovoi - as well as P. melanurus - as distinct species. P. melanurus is provisionally treated here as a distinct valid species.

Populations from Kazakhstan previously assigned to P. versicolor, as well as those from Siberia and northern Mongolia previously described as the subspecies P. v. kulagini, are referable to P. guttatus (Wang and Fu 2004, Sindaco and Jeremčenko 2008).

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of a fragment of the COI gene of mtDNA confirmed the differentiation of P. melanurus in two lineages, as well as the validity of P. incertus and P. kuschakewitschi as distinct species (Dunayev et al. 2020).

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Not Recorded

In the European region, this species is restricted to Southern European Russia. It is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a threatened category. Although a long-term, gradual range contraction has been documented and is believed to be ongoing, this is presently not at a scale or over a timeframe that would warrant listing the species in another category.

Within the European region, this species is restricted to southern European Russia (Kalmykia, and the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions - Bannikov et al. 1977, Tabachishin and Zavialov 2005), east to near (but reaching) the northern coast of the Caspian Sea. Its northern range limit lies on the left bank of the Don River (Tabachisinin and Zavialov 2005).

Outside the European region, the species is widely distributed from southern Russia (to the Russian Northern Caucasus in Dagestan, Chechyna and the Stavropol Territory - Bannikov et al. 1977, Tabachishin and Zavialov 2005), through much of Kazakhstan to the west bank of the Aral Sea and areas to its northeast (Dunayev 2009). Seemingly isolated subpopulations occur in northwestern Uzbekistan (Kara-Kalpakia) and northwestern Turkmenistan (Sindaco and Jeremčenko 2008, representing the subspecies Phrynocephalus guttatus salsatus). It is found up to 1,000 m asl.

This is a common species found at relatively high densities. The population is suspected to be stable. In the lowlands of the northeastern Caucasus and Don River region it can be rare (N. Ananjeva pers. comm. 2016). From 3-26 specimens per hectare have been recorded in Kazakhstan (Semenov and Shenbrot 1986, Brushko 1995), and Tabaschishin and Zavialov (2005) summarise studies in the European range which recorded between 0.75 and 38.5 ind. /ha in a variety of habitats. A density as high as 99.1 ind. /ha was reported by Badmaeva (1983), however studies both before and after this have recorded densities of 15-25, a figure that has seemingly remained constant since at least 1982 (Tabaschishin and Zavialov 2005). The subspecies Phrynocephalus guttatus salsatus has an unknown population trend, but has a very small distribution and only one to three specimens per kilometre have been recorded (Golubev et al. 1995).

This species is generally associated with areas of sandy soil, sometimes with vegetation cover. The subspecies Phrynocephalus guttatus salsatus is closely associated with alkaline soils, but occasionally it can be found on the slopes of barkhans (sand ridges). It is a territorial species, females are more sedentary with a smaller home range than males. Reproduction begins at the end of April, with the eggs laid from May to mid-July, and the young appearing in the middle of July to September (Brushko 1995). Two clutches, each of 2-3 eggs, are possible.

In the European part of the range, it adheres to sands with sparse vegetation, and avoids free-flowing dunes. It is active from mid-March to October. In Ciscaucasia, animals appear after wintering from late March to early May. Spring dispersal of young lizards after wintering has been noted. In spring and late autumn, the maximum peak of diurnal activity occurs in the middle of the day; from late spring to mid-autumn. This activity has a two-peak character. Strong wind significantly reduces activity. The maximum population density in some biotopes in Ciscaucasia reaches 200 ind. /ha. The breeding season runs from late April to early May. Lizards reach sexual maturity one year after birth with a body length of at least 40 mm (Ananjeva et al. 1998, Tertyshnikov 2002).

Cattle grazing is expanding the habitat of this species by replacing natural habitat with more suitable sandy substrates, however the effects of this vary with the intensity of the activity: more extensive cattle grazing destroys natural habitat and is not likely to favour this species.

In the Stavropol Territory (Russia) at the western limit of the species' range in Europe, a slow decline in the area of suitable biotopes has been observed and seems to be ongoing. The main reason for this process is the overgrowth of sand massifs. There is evidence of an eastwards range shift of more than 30 km since 1884 of its species' range in the region (Tertyshnikov 2002, Doronin 2013).

There is no information on any use or trade in this species, but it is probably not traded.

In view of its wide range this species presumably occurs in some protected areas. The subspecies Phrynocephalus guttatus salsatus is included into the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan (1999) in Category 3 (rare, restricted-range species). It is included in the Red Books of several Russian regions (Kalmykia, Orenburg region, Volgograd region, Stavropol Territory). It is protected on the territory of at least seven reserves and sanctuaries.