There are five described subspecies. There are no consistent morphological differences between subspecies (Scibberas and Schembri 2008) and their validity is not supported by genetic data (Salvi et al. 2014). Two main genetic lineages have been identified: a Gozitan lineage (Gozo, Comino and their neighbouring islets) and a Maltese lineage (Malta and Filfla, with exclusive mitochondrial haplotypes in the Filfla population) (Salvi et al. 2014). Genetic evidence suggests a recent origin for the Pelagian population (Lampione and Linosa) (Salvi et al. 2014).

This European endemic species is considered to be native to the Maltese islands. It is assessed as Least Concern on the basis that this species, despite having an extent of occurrence of 426 km², occurs in a variety of habitats which are common in the Maltese islands and is widespread within its range, including in rural, peri-urban and urban environments. Although the species has disappeared from several localities it is abundant in others, including urban areas, it is generally common, and does not appear to be in overall decline.

This species occurs in the Maltese Archipelago (Bischoff 1986, Dürr 2001), where it is found on the islands of Malta (including Manoel Island), Gozo, Comino and associated smaller islets, Fungus (= General's) Rock, Filfla, Cominotto, Halfa Rock, and Tac-Cawl (Salvi et al. 2014; C. Corti pers. comm. October 2022).

The species also occurs on the Italian islands of Linosa and Lampione (Lanza 1973), to which it is likely to have been introduced within the last several hundred (or at most a few thousand) years from Gozo based on evidence from mitochondrial DNA (Salvi et al. 2014). It is unclear whether these represent human-mediated introductions or natural dispersal (D. Salvi pers. comm. 2022), and for the purposes of this assessment it is presumed to be native. A few individuals were deliberately introduced to the island of Lampedusa, between 2001 and 2002 (Lo Cascio et al. 2005), but recent surveys have not confirmed the presence of a surviving population on the island (Lo Valvo et al. 2018).

This species is widespread on both Malta and Gozo (D. Salvi pers. comm. 2022), and it can be locally abundant (Speybroeck et al. 2016). Rodriguez et al. (2014) report that, based on surveys across a large portion of Malta, they found it to occur at low densities, however herpetologists resident on Malta - and the results of an assessment monitoring selected localities over the course of a year - have found the lizard to be widespread and abundant, with no evidence of population declines or fluctuations on this island (Ecoserve 2021, D. Salvi pers. comm. 2022).

The Selmunett subpopulation - reported to be "very dense" in 1986, with an estimated population of approximately 1,000 individuals in the 1980s and '90s based on extrapolation from anecdotal records - underwent a substantial decline between at least 1999 (the first year for which quantitative data are available) and 2005, with encounter rates recorded in systematic visual surveys declining from a maximum of 18 individuals/hour in 1999 to zero in 2005 (Sciberras and Schembri 2008). Casual observations indicate that the lizard was still present on Selmunett by the time rats were eradicated on this island, but the species is now considered to be extinct on Selmunett (Sciberras and Sciberras 2014).

This species is found in dry habitats including scrubland, rocky areas, traditionally cultivated land and gardens, rubble walls around fields and country paths, and stone screes. It can be found on walls and rocky surfaces in cities (Speybroeck et al. 2016), as well as in peri-urban environments, both urban and rural gardens, derelict sites, and along the sides of urban roads (P.J. Schembri pers. obs.). It lives in seabird colonies in some places. It is an egg-laying species: females lay one or two clutches of one to four eggs following mating in April or May, and juveniles emerge in late summer (Speybroeck et al. 2016).

Overall this species is not at significant risk as it adapts well to habitat modification and no widespread threats exist on the larger islands on which it occurs (Malta, Gozo, and Comino), although it is prey for domestic cats on these islands (D. Salvi pers. comm. 2022) and is locally impacted by fire.

On smaller islands general threats exist from rats (mainly in microinsular environments). Rat predation caused the apparent extinction of the lizard on Semunett island (Scibberas and Schembri 2008, Sciberras and Scibberas 2014). On the small island of Cominotto, it is subject to frequent predation by the native ocellated skink, and possibly the introduced Mediterranean chameleon (Sciberras 2007). The subpopulations on the smallest islands, such as Filfla, may be at risk from stochastic events.

There may be some low-level collection by reptile hobbyists, but it is unlikely to be subject to significant use or trade.

This species is listed on Annex II of the Bern Convention. It occurs in a few protected areas. It is a protected species in Malta and covered by the European Habitats Directive.

Several animals collected in surveys of Selmunett in 2004 were re-released on the island following rat eradication in 2007, in an effort to rescue the remnant subpopulation (Sciberras and Schembri 2008). This appears to have been unsuccessful, and Sciberras and Sciberras (2014) concluded that it is extinct on this island. Genetic studies have identified two Evolutionary Significant Units that should be regarded as distinct management units (Salvi et al. 2014, Rodrigues et al. 2014). Salvi et al. (2014) found that the subpopulation from the tiny islet of Filfola is genetically differentiated from those from the main island. Although Rodrigues et al. (2014) proposed urgent protection of the Maltese subpopulation, monitoring - conducted as part of an effort commissioned by the Environment and Resources Authority aimed at evaluating the conservation status of this species - has not supported the suggestion that this species is scarce or declining on this island (Ecoserv 2021, D. Salvi pers. comm. 2022).