Following the revision of the Bufo viridis complex by Stöck et al. (2006) and the further work of Dufresnes et al. (2019), subpopulations of Green Toads now allocated to Bufotes viridis are distributed through much of Europe (excluding much of Fenno-Skandia, the British Isles, almost the whole of Italy, the Iberian Peninsula and almost all of Europe west of the Rhine River) Following genetic analysis, Bufotes variabilis has also been synonymised with this species (Dufresnes et al. 2019). Following this taxonomic change, this species range now includes subpopulations from the Eastern Mediterranean countries (see Stöck et al. 2006) and possibly subpopulations from the southern tip of Sweden, Denmark and northern Germany that were also provisionally identified as Bufotes (Bufo) variabilis by Stöck et al. (2006). The species of Green Toad on the island of Malta is unclear, and is retained here in Bufotes viridis pending further research.

Populations of Green Toads from the Balearic Islands (Spain), Corsica (France), Sardinia (Italy) and much of mainland Italy are now recognized as Bufotes balearicus. Green toad populations from Sicily, Italy, now are recognised as Bufotes boulengeri under the new concept.

Further revision of taxonomy of the Bufotes viridis complex with the use of genetic and biochemical data is needed. There was disagreement over the use of the generic name Pseudepidalea in place of Bufo and now most species have been moved to Bufotes because of non-monophyly of both Bufo and Pseudepidalea.

Dufresnes et al. (2019) revised the taxonomy of the B. viridis complex, synonymising B. balearicus and Bufo variabilis within it; they also clarified range limits between this species and the former synonym B. sitibundus, which they elevated to specific status, encompassing most of the species' former range. B. perrini was also elevated from sub-species to species level (Dufresnes et al. 2019).A

Although Bufotes sitinumdus has now been synonymised with Bufotes viridis, this taxonomic change has little to no affect on the European range of B. viridis and therefore this assessment applies to either concept of the species.

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

Although some taxonomic issues remain to be resolved across the wide global range of the Green Toad (Bufotes viridis), it is assessed as Least Concern for Europe and for the EU 27 member states in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a range of habitats and presumed large population.

In the European region, this species (following revision of the Bufo viridis complex; Stöck et al. 2006) and further work of Dufresnes et al. (2019), is now considered to occur through much of Europe, with an eastern limit of the Volga River drainage - the area of the Volga and Kama rivers (Amphibian Species of the World; Frost 2020). The range of this species also includes subpopulations from the eastern Mediterranean countries (see Stöck et al. 2006, Dufresnes et al. 2019) and possibly subpopulations from the southern tip of Sweden, Denmark and northern Germany that were also provisionally identified as Bufotes (Bufo) variabilis by Stöck et al. (2006). The identity of Green Toad records on the island of Malta is unclear, and is retained here in Bufotes viridis pending further research. Subpopulations from much of Italy, including the island of Sardinia, some major circum-Sardinian islands (Corti et al. 2006) and the easternmost parts of Sicily, also island of Corsica (France), and the Balearic Islands of Spain (where it was probably introduced in prehistoric times), all previously assigned as Bufotes balearicus, are now synonymized with B. viridis. The species is absent from much of Fenno-Scandia, the British Isles, the Iberian Peninsula and almost all of Europe west of the Rhine River. The species occurs throughout the Greek mainland (including Peloponnese) and it has been recorded on many islands, including Crete and the East Aegean islands (Graham et al. 2020; Pafilis and Maragou 2020, Dufresnes et al. 2021, Strachinis 2022; I. Strachinis pers. records).

Following Frost (2020), the range of this species out of the European region now extends east of the Volga and Kama rivers valley (Faizulin et al. 2018) to the Udmurtia region in Russia (S. Litvinchuk pers. comm. October 2022), with an isolated subpopulation along the Ob River in Siberia likely to result from human introduction (Dufresnes et al. 2019). B. sitibundus is now synonymised with B. viridis. Therefore, the Green Toad also reaches northwestern Anatolia and the Caucasus region, from southeastern Kazakhstan to the southwestern Caspian shores, and central Uzbekistan. Frost (2020) further recognises two lineages: the Eastern lineage is associated with the arid lowlands from the Amu-Darya to the south (western Afghanistan and Uzbekistan), towards the eastern side of the former Aral Sea, the middle and lower Syr-Darya flow, eastern side of the Turgai Depression, the lower Talas and Chu River drainages and Balkhash Lake basin, to the western foothills of the Tian-Shan system; the Western lineage is found mostly in arid mountainous areas of southwestern Turkmenistan and northeastern Iran (Khorasan), possibly extending into southwestern Tajikistan and northern Kyrgyzstan. Former subpopulations from North Africa are now assigned B. boulengeri, as well as Green Toad subpopulations from Sicily which were previously considered as the endemic B. siculus, with some subpopulations of B. viridis in the northeast of this island. Bufotes viridis is also recognized in northern Sinai (Egypt) north through Israel, Lebanon, western and northern Syria to southern Russia, and southeast through eastern Iraq, Kuwait, and western Iran. However, the status of Green Toads in Israel, Jordan, Sinai (Egypt) and the relict isolated subpopulation in the southern Hadramaut in southwestern Saudi Arabia (where recent records are restricted to three localities in the Sodah Mountains; Al-Qahatani and Al-Johany 2018) is currently unclear, whether they refer to B. viridis or B. boulengeri.

This species is still considered a relatively abundant to common species over large parts of its range, although subpopulations formally recognised as Bufotes viridis are rare or declining on the fringes of its range in Europe (e.g. Denmark and Sweden). It is extinct in Switzerland despite re-introduction efforts. Declines have been observed in Czechia (A. Krása pers. comm. September 2019), have occurred in Romania due to urbanisation (D. Cogălniceanu pers. comm. September 2019), as well as in Serbia (J. Crnobrnja-Isailović pers. comm. January 2022) and it is not as common as it was 20 years ago in Budapest, Hungary (E. Mizsei pers. comm. September 2019). It is suspected to be decreasing in Bulgaria (Y. Kornilev, G. Popgeorgiev and B. Naumov pers. comm. October 2019). However, the species is fine in Italy (F. Ficetola and R. Manenti pers. comm. September 2019). Within the Balearic Islands, where possibly introduced, it is common except for on Ibiza. It is declining slowly on Majorca and more rapidly on Ibiza as a result of loss of breeding habitat.

This species lives in a wide range of forests, forest steppe, scrubland, grassland and alpine habitats. Animals may be present in modified areas including urban centres (e.g. Bucharest), city parks and gardens - and often benefit from disturbed habitats. In Italy, this is generally a lowland species, where it occupies coastal areas (typically but not exclusively sand dunes), cultivated areas, and suburban and urban areas where it is found in gravel and sand pits, ponds and ditches. It is also found in water tanks in the Balearic Islands. Spawning and larval development occurs in a diverse range of temporary and permanent but always sun-exposed waterbodies including swamps, ponds, lakes, pools in streams and rivers, reservoirs, ditches and puddles.

The main threat over much of the range (most especially in the north) appears to be the loss of breeding habitats through wetland drainage, desiccation and aquatic pollution (industrial and agricultural). Subpopulations might be locally declining due to mortality on roads. In Czechia, an increase in fish farms and fish introductions has been detrimental to the species (A. Krása pers. comm. September 2019) and, while the species is fairly adaptable, urbanisation has been a problem for its Romanian subpopulation (D. Cogălniceanu pers. comm. September 2019), as well as for Serbian (J. Crnobrnja-Isailović pers. comm. January 2022). In Germany site development of fallow land causes a loss of habitat. On the Balearic Islands, where the origin of the species is uncertain, loss and degradation of breeding habitat has resulted from excessive water abstraction, urbanisation, the decline of traditional agricultural practices and pollution with agrochemicals. Fragmentation as a result of road construction is also a problem. Urbanisation decreases regular annual breeding through fragmentation and degradation of suitable green areas (Guarino et al. 2021).

It may be collected for the pet trade.

Conservation Actions In-Place
The species is listed on Appendix II of the Bern Convention and is listed on Annex IV of the EU Natural Habitats Directive. It is protected by national legislation in many countries; it is recorded on many national and sub-national Red Data books and lists and is present in many protected areas. It is Endangered in Czech Republic (Chobot and Nemec 2017), Vulnerable in Austria (Gollmann 2007), Slovenia (Anonymous 2010), Near Threatened in France (UICN France et al. 2015), Albania (Anonymous 2013), Romania (Botnariuc and Tatole 2005). In parts of this species' range, mitigation measures to reduce road kill have been established.

Research Needed
Further taxonomic work is needed to clarify the identity of some subpopulations. More research is needed into the species' distribution, population trends and threats. Monitoring of subpopulations believed to be in decline is also necessary.