This species contains a number of different lineages, some of which might constitute separate species (see Bea et al. 1990, Surget-Groba et al. 2001, 2002, Mayer and Böhme 2000, and Mayer et al. 2000 for further details).

One oviparous lineage was described as the subspecies Zootaxa vivipara carniolica by Mayer et al. (2000). Subsequent molecular research has supported this assignment, and Cornetti et al. (2015) found no evidence of genetic admixture in one of the two contact zones between the two taxa, in the Italian Alps. These authors advised treating Z. v. carniolica as a full species should research reveal that the species is similarly isolated in the other contact zone, in Austria.

Although two individuals interpreted as natural hybrids were detected in a sample of 36 specimens by Lindtke et al. (2010), this was an inference based on intermediate reproductive characteristics rather than genetic evidence. No genetic admixture has so far been observed in the Austrian contact zone (J. Speybroeck pers. comm. 2023), evidence deemed sufficient to warrant elevating Z. carniolica to species status by Speybroeck et al. (2020).

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

Zootoca carniolica is endemic to Europe, where it has a moderately restricted distribution in the central-eastern Alps. Based on available locality records, the extent of occurrence (EOO) is moderately large, at 88,826 km², however, the area of occupancy (AOO) is restricted, at 400 km². Whilst these values are uncertain and may be underestimates (certainly the AOO), it is likely that the AOO is less than 2,000 km². 

The species is assessed as Least Concern for both globally and for the European Union on the basis that the species is still widespread at higher elevations. Although it has been subject to significant declines and local extinctions in lowland and mid-elevation areas of northern Italy, this represents a peripheral part of its range and the rate of declines, which have taken place over one to two centuries, has not approached 30% in the past three generations.

This species is endemic to Europe, where it occurs in the central-eastern Alps (Cornetti et al. 2015a). It ranges from the Piedmont region of northeastern Italy, through northern Italy (with a northern range limit apparently in the Italian Prealps), and the Carnian Alps of Austria to Slovenia and northwest Croatia (Cornetti et al. 2014, 2015a). It also occurs as several isolated and relict lowland subpopulations in Italy's Po Valley (S. Ghielmi pers. comm. 2024), which are thought to represent the southern range limit in this country (Cornetti et al. 2014). The range of this recently recognised species is not well understood at present, and it has only recently been confirmed for Switzerland, where it is currently known from a small isolated area of southern Switzerland (Val Morobbia, Tocino; Dufresnes et al. 2021), a record that was previously assigned by Surget-Groba et al. (2002) to Zootoca vivipara.

Based on available locality records [data compiled by S. Ghielmi (pers. comm. 2024) from Mayer et al. (2000), Surget-Groba et al. (2001, 2002, 2006), Ghielmi et al. (2006), Cornetti et al. (2014), Cornetti et al. (2015a,b), Rodriguez-Prieto et al. (2017)], the EOO is moderately large, at 88,826 km² and the AOO is 400 km². However, these values are uncertain, may be underestimated (certainly the AOO), and require confirmation from further research and confirmation of the distribution of this species with respect to the related Viviparous Lizard Zootoca vivipara.

In the Italian Alps, the species occurs between 950 and 2,066 m asl, and elsewhere has been found to near sea level, however, all the records lower than 200 m elevation are older (1992-2003), and it is uncertain if these records persist (Cornetti et al. 2014, Giovine et al. 2016; unpublished data, S. Ghielmi pers. comm. 2024). The species is typically found at lower elevations than the related Viviparous Lizard (Cornetti et al. 2014, Giovine et al. 2016).

This species is "relatively rare" (Cornetti et al. 2015a) and localised in at least parts of its Italian range (Giovine et al. 2016). It is however fairly common in mid- to high-elevation areas of the Brembana Valley (Giovine et al. 2016). Population genetic research on northern Italian subpopulations indicates that these subpopulations are highly fragmentary, and implies past decline (Rodriguez-Prieto et al. 2017). Remaining northern Italian subpopulations are at high risk, but these are mainly isolates away from the main range of this species and nothing is documented of the species' population status in the major part of its range.

This species is confined to "relatively rainy" montane habitats and continuous stretches of wet lowland habitats, particularly peat bogs and fens (Surget-Groba et al. 2002). At mid-elevations, it tends to colonise meadows and pastures (Giovine et al. 2016). In southeastern Slovenia, it has been recorded from open microhabitats within a matrix of temperate forest (Žagar et al. 2017). It favours moist microhabitats: in a study in southeast Slovenia, relative humidity in favoured microhabitats was largely constant at around 66% (Žagar et al. 2017).

This species is oviparous (Lindtke et al. 2010). It can remain active across a wide temperature range and has a high critical thermal maximum temperature of 54°C, in a study in southeast Slovenia it was found to occur in microhabitats that can reach an average 47 °C ground temperature in the warmest part of the day in summer (Žagar et al. 2017). It may, however, experience thermal stress at these temperatures, and lizard behaviour in this study suggested that animals preferentially selected lower-temperature refugia or remained inactive in hot conditions (Žagar et al. 2017).

Low- and mid-elevation subpopulations of this species are at particular risk from the fragmentation and loss of wetlands through processes such as drainage and peat extraction (Surget-Groba et al. 2002), as well as the impacts of climate change (Cornetti et al. 2014). Agriculture and residential development have been identified as the main drivers in northern Italy (Cornetti et al. 2018). Bog, fen and peatland habitats are regarded as threatened or seriously threatened throughout Europe, and in particular peatlands across the Alps are suffering declines in both the number sites and the surface area of individual wetlands (Cornetti et al. 2014). In the Prealps Giovine et al. (2016) identified pasture reduction and encroachment by woody vegetation, a consequence of reduced grazing levels, as the principal driver of habitat loss and fragmentation for this species.

In some areas where urban development has followed wetland clearance, European Wall Lizards have colonised areas favoured by Z. carniolica for thermoregulation (Giovine et al. 2016). Several local extinctions of historical subpopulations have been documented in the Po Valley and Southern Alps over the last century (Cornetti et al. 2014, Sindaco et al. 2006). The species no longer survives on the western Po Plain, and was last recorded at one locality in the Central Po Plain in 1998 (Ghielmi et al. 2006, Cornetti et al. 2018). In a genetic examination of museum specimens from this area Cornetti et al. (2018) found that two unique haplotypes seem to have disappeared on the Po Plain over a period of no more than two centuries, suggesting that human activities are eroding genetic variability in northern Italy. The remaining subpopulations on the Po Plain, with those in the Busatello area the southernmost, and mid-elevation subpopulations in the Italian Alps, are increasingly exposed to impacts from climate and land use change (Cornetti et al. 2018).

A study on the peat bogs in the Italian Alps following a heatwave in 2003 found that survival of Sphagnum and other peat mosses was adversely affected by only a single summer with high temperatures and reduced rainfall (Bragazza 2008). The increased frequency of these conditions is consequently a cause for significant concern (Cornetti et al. 2014).

There is no information on any use of or trade in this species, although it is unlikely to be used or traded as there is no significant trade in the very similar Viviparous Lizard.

This species has been recorded from at least one protected area in Italy (Parco naturale dell'Alta Val Sesia e dell'Alta Val Strona), and three in Slovenia (Logarska Dolina; near Lake Cerknica; and Triglav National Park) (Speybroeck et al. 2023). All four are Natura 2000 sites. A number of locality records (unpublished data, S. Ghielmi pers. comm. 2024) overlap protected areas (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2024), and it is likely that the species occurs in a number of further protected areas.

The remnant lowland subpopulations in the Busatello region are of likely evolutionary significance, and Cornetti et al. (2018) recommend targeting conservation efforts at these subpopulations and those at mid-elevations in the western to eastern Italian Alps. Further taxonomic and distributional research is required to clarify the degree of isolation across the entire contact zone between this species and Zootoca vivipara, and to evaluate levels of introgression (J. Speybroeck pers. comm. 2023).