This is a restricted concept of this species following the split of the broader concept into this and Alytes almogavarii, which was previously considered to be a subspecies (Dufresnes and Martínez-Solano 2020).

Global and European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
This European endemic species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a threatened category. The species is also assessed as Least Concern for the EU 27 member states.

This species ranges from the northern half of Portugal and Spain (where subpopulations are very fragmented, and there is a small area of occupancy within its extent of occurrence), through most of France, to southern Belgium, extreme southeastern Netherlands, Luxembourg, western and north-central Germany, and western and northern Switzerland. Subpopulations in coastal Portugal west of Lisbon are extinct. It has been introduced to the U.K., with at least one established subpopulation (not mapped). It occurs at elevations ranging from sea level up to 2,400 m asl (in the Pyrenees). Maiorano et al. (2013) estimated the species' extent of occurrence (EOO) as 1,056,482 km².

Following genetic analysis, subpopulations from N. Aragón and most of Catalonia, Spain have now been assigned to Alytes almogavarii (Dufresnes and Martinez-Solano 2020).

It is reported to be declining (including local extinctions) across its range, but it is still widespread and common in many areas (e.g. in much of France). There have been local extinctions within Spain caused by chytridiomycosis (I. Martinez-Solano pers. comm. September 2019).

This species lives in terrestrial habitats, including temperate forests, semi-arid areas, walls, embankments, and slopes with small stones and sparse vegetation. It can occur in suitable modified habitat such as traditional agricultural land, and even urban areas (e.g. in Barcelona). Aquatic habitats in which the species breeds range from slow moving rivers to stagnant permanent ponds and pools; gravel and clay pits are also used. The larvae of this species frequently hibernate.

General habitat loss, largely due to agricultural development (including loss of breeding sites), has contributed to the decline of the species in some areas. Fragmentation of subpopulations might be a problem for the species in Spain and Portugal. Certain subpopulations of the subspecies Alytes obstetricans pertinax in protected areas of central Spain have severely declined and disappeared as a result of chytridiomycosis (Bosch et al. 2000, 2001); a few specimens have recently been found again in this area (M. García-París and J.W. Arntzen pers. comm.). Additional mortality of the species through disease (iridovirus) has been recorded in Carris Lake, Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal (Soares et al. 2003); the disease might be non-native and have been transferred to the lake by an introduced predatory fish (Lepomis gibbosus). Mortality initially attributed to the bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila "red-leg disease" has also been reported (Márquez et al. 1995). Predation by L. gibbosus and other introduced predatory fish species, such as salmonids, is also a considerable threat to this species.

There are no records of this species being utilised.

Conservation Actions In-Place:
The species is presumed to occur in a number of protected areas. It is listed on Appendix II of the Berne Convention and on Annex IV of the EU Natural Habitats Directive. It is listed in a number of national and sub-national Red Data Books and is protected by national legislation in many of its range states.

Research Needed:
Further research into the current decline is needed especially into the impacts of disease.