The species has been found to exhibit high levels of genetic differentiation in mitochondrial DNA, but sampling using nuclear markers exhibit "limited differentiation" and this diversity is better-understood as intraspecific variation than as evidence of cryptic species (Abreu et al. 2020).

European regional assessment: Not Applicable (NA)
EU 27 regional assessment: Not Applicable (NA)

The presence of this species in the European Red List assessment region requires confirmation. It may occur in the Spanish North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla (old and unconfirmed records), and at present it is considered Not Applicable for the European Red List.

This species may occur in the Spanish North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla: there are old and unconfirmed records, and its presence there was included without comment on its distribution in a checklist of Spanish reptiles (Carretero et al. 2015), and as occurring on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar (and so potentially in both Spanish North Africa and Iberia (mainland Spain, including Gibraltar), although they only refer to its occurrence in Morocco, and there appear to be no reports from Gibraltar or mainland Spain) by Pleguezuelos et al. (2008). The species' presence in Ceuta is accepted by Bacallado et al. (2012), but this is a checklist and the source of its records are not specified. A natural occurrence in Gibraltar appears unlikely, as until the mid-20th Century the ocellated lizard (Timon lepidus) was found in this country (Mateo 2015).

This species occurs in much of Morocco (except the southwest, based on current records) and in northwestern Algeria, occurring throughout Mediterranean biomes in the Rif and Atlas Mountains (Abreu et al. 2020). There is an apparently isolated subpopulation in northern Western Sahara (Schleich et al. 1996), however only a single specimen has been collected from this area - in 2004 - since the mid-20th Century (Martínez del Mármol et al. 2019). Genetic evidence indicates that a subpopulation from the Saharan Atlas in central Algeria is also referable to this species (Beddek et al. 2018). It occurs up to 2,700 m asl (Martínez del Mármol et al. 2019).

There is no information on the population size and trend, if it occurs, in the European assessment region. It is a relatively common species, except in Western Sahara.

It occurs in Mediterranean scrubby habitats and middle-elevation mountain forests. It is an egg-laying species.

There is no information on threats to this species in Spanish North Africa. Loss of habitat generally and urbanisation might be expected.

No information on use or trade.

No information. Confirmation of the presence of this species in the European assessment area is required.