This is a species complex with nine currently recognised species whose taxonomy has been under revision since morphological and genetic variation was characterised by studies at the start of the 21st Century (e.g. Harris et al. 2002, Harris and Sá-Sousa 2002). Its taxonomy is not yet fully resolved despite three partial revisions of European populations (Geniez et al. 2007, Renoult et al. 2010, Geniez et al. 2014) over the last two decades, and the systematics of North African populations, presently assigned to Podarcis vaucheri following Oliverio et al. (2000), have not been investigated.

Following the changes since the last Red List assessment, Podarcis hispanicus sensu stricto is restricted to a "very limited" (by comparison with its historically understood range) area in the southeast corner of the Iberian Peninsula (Geniez et al. 2007). Remaining European populations have been assigned to the available names Podarcis liolepis (of which P. atratus is a junior synonym) (Renoult et al. 2010), P. guadarramae and P. virescens (Geniez et al. 2014), and P. lusitanicus (elevated from within P. guadarramae by Caeiro-Dias et al. 2021).

Bassitta et al. (2020) proposed a new species, Podarcis galerai, from the southern part of the range of P. hispanucus in Spain. However, Bassitta et al. (2020) do not provide a very precise diagnosis of the new form, which they base on a small sample size, and Caeiro-Dias et al. (2021) opined that this action should be regarded as preliminary. S. Carranza (pers. comm. 2021) reports preliminary evidence from some workers that the two populations are not reproductively isolated. Evidence for P. galerai is poor and mostly based on mtDNA and in any case the range is not well defined (M.A. Carretero pers. comm. October 2022). As such P. galerai is here treated as a junior synonym of P. hispanicus.

This European endemic species is assessed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a degree of habitat modification, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

This species is endemic to Europe, where it is restricted to southeast Spain. Geniez et al. (2007) define its distribution as the Spanish Levant from the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada to the Alicante region, with records from the provinces of Alicante, Murcia, Almeria and Granada. Most records are from the area between Murcia and the northeastern and southeastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, and records are "scarce" further east (Geniez et al. 2007).

During research leading to the taxonomic revision of this species, Geniez et al. (2007) surveyed part of the historical range of their reduced concept of Podarcis hispanicus. While cautioning that their results were anecdotal, they reported that the species could not be found at Monte Agudo, but that a then-undescribed congener (now Podarcis liolepis) was present at this locality. Geniez et al. (2007) hypothesised that this may reflect a range contraction since the last record of P. hispanicus from this site a century earlier.

It can be a common species in suitable habitat.

This species is associated with "typical wall lizard habitats", which include dry-stone walls, villages and rock formations (Speybroeck et al. 2016). A maximum age of 13 years has been recorded in captivity (applying the older concept of this species), but its longevity in the wild is unknown (Bannert 1998, Jesus 2012).

Aridification due to climate change and the conversion of extensive areas of land to intensive cultivation (greenhouses) is reducing the availability of suitable habitats (M.A. Carretero pers. comm. October 2022).

There is no information on any use of or trade in this species.

This species is listed on Annex III of the Bern Convention, and it is presumed to be present in several protected areas. The taxonomy of this species may be in need of further resolution, and research is recommended to clarify whether the species has undergone range contraction and, if so, what the drivers are and whether the species is presently subject to major threats.