Copris inhalatus comprises five subspecies, C. i. ssp. inhalatus, C. i. ssp. grandis, C. i. ssp. perturbator, C. i. ssp. santaeluciae and C. i. ssp. ngotto.

Although the subspecies of Copris inhalatus show a wide combined range on deep sands, population density seems to be low in at least one of these taxa. In view of the wide distribution in open vegetation and lack of any known threats, the species is listed as Least Concern.

The limited data for this species indicate that three of the five subspecies exhibit a primary combined range across the Mega-Kalahari deep sands that extend from northern South Africa across Botswana, eastern Namibia, western Zambia, and eastern Angola, to both the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Nguyen-Phung and Cambefort 1986, Davis et al. 2020). Copris inhalatus ssp. grandis was described from Kabwe (cited as Broken Hill) in Zambia and is known only from the type locality. C. i. ssp. perturbator was described from the Evari River (northern Namibia) and is centred on the southern Kalahari in Botswana and the Northern Cape in South Africa, but also occurs in disjunct patches of sand in Zimbabwe. C. i. ssp. ngotto was described from the Central African Republic (Davis et al. 2020). C. i. ssp. santaeluciae was described from St Lucia Estuary in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and shows a disjunct occurrence centred on the coastline of southern Mozambique and northern KwaZulu-Natal. Davis et al. (2020) include southern Tanzania within their description of the species' range, but no valid locality in this country has been identified (A. Davis pers. comm. 2024). In southern Africa it has been recorded from both low elevations, with records from sea level to 273 m asl (C. i. ssp. sanctaeluciae), and mid-elevations (924-1,444 m asl, C. i. ssp. pertubator) (Davis et al. 2020).

Despite its wide range, this species has not been commonly recorded. Davis et al. (2020) describe it as uncommon. Fair numbers of the southeast coastal variety (Copris inhalatus ssp. santaeluciae) have been trapped (Davis et al. 2002, F. Escobar unpublished data) in Maputo Special Reserve (Mozambique). A survey at six points across the Botswana Kalahari, using pig, elephant, cattle, sheep dung and carrion baits, failed to capture C. i. ssp. perturbator (Tshikae 2011). The reason for the rarity of most subspecies is unclear.

There are limited collection records for this moderately-sized, night-flying, tunnelling species. Those for the southern African subspecies Copris inhalatus ssp. perturbator and C. i. ssp. sanctaeluciae are entirely from deep sand in grassland or open shrubland on cattle dung (with a single record from elephant dung - Davis et al. 2020). A quantitative study on the deep sands of Maputo Elephant Reserve in southern Mozambique used pig dung as bait, and recorded C. i. ssp. santaeluciae primarily in the grassland of dry pans (2.7 individuals per trap) and rarely in shaded forest patches (0.2 per trap) (Escobar et al. 2021). A further quantitative study on coastal dunes in northern KwaZulu-Natal, using composite baits of pig and cattle dung, recorded this subspecies in open localities in post-mining, early succession (~3 years old – 0.3 individuals per trap; ~6 years old – 1.5 individuals per trap) regenerating vegetation, but not in later shaded successional stages comprising woodland (~9-21 years old), nor in the highly shaded natural forest vegetation (Davis et al. 2002).

This species has been recorded from savanna vegetation in the moist but hot Maputaland coastal forest mosaic (AT0199) (ssp. santaeluciae); in the southern Kalahari basin and nearby sand outliers, particularly Kalahari Xeric Savanna (AT1309), Kalahari Acacia-Baikiaea woodlands (AT0709), Zambezian Baikiaea woodlands (AT0726), and Southern Miombo woodlands (AT0719) (ssp. perturbator); in Central Zambezian Miombo woodlands (AT0704) (ssp. grandis); and in Southern Congolian forest-savanna mosaic (AT0718) and Western Congolian forest-savanna mosaic (AT0723) (ssp. inhalatus) (ecoregions based on Olson et al. 2001).

Across 14 localities (C. i. ssp. perturbator) in southern Africa mean annual rainfall is 346 and 761 mm and mean annual temperatures 17.5 and 22.4 °C (Davis et al. 2020). For C. i. ssp. sanctaeluciae comparable values (across 27 localities) are 682-1,002 and 20.5-22.5 °C (Davis et al. 2020).

It is likely that this species does not face any major threats at present as it occurs in open vegetation and some subspecies occur on cattle dung. Although the subspecies Copris inhalatus ssp. sanctaeluciae has a comparatively restricted range, this lies mostly in protected areas and it is not believed to be at current risk (Davis et al. 2020).

There is no use or trade information available for this species.

There are no species-specific conservation measures in place. The coastal subspecies is afforded a measure of protection in Maputo Special Reserve in southern Mozambique and iSimangaliso Wetland Park in South Africa, but other than a single record from Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe the other southern African subspecies is not known from protected areas (Davis et al. 2020). Research is recommended to clarify this species' ecology and the reasons for the low recorded population density in Copris inhalatus ssp.  perturbator (Davis et al. 2020).