This species was included in Rhinechis following Utiger et al. (2002). Salvi et al. (2018) subsequently proposed synonymising Rhinechis within Zamenis to better-reflect evolutionary relationships, and this scheme has been followed by later authors (e.g. Geniez 2018).

This species is endemic to western Europe. It is assessed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, presumed large population, no widespread threats have been identified, and because the population is thought to be broadly stable despite reported declines in southeast France.

This species endemic to western Europe, where it is found through much of Portugal and Spain (although it is absent from much of northernmost Spain) and Mediterranean areas of southern France. There is a record from northwestern Italy, from Ventimiglia very close to the French border (Geniez 2018), but there is no recent confirmation of its occurrence in this country. It is present on the islands of Ons and Arousa in Galicia (Spain), Menorca (an old introduction), Ibiza, and Iles d'en Colom (Speybroeck et al. 2016), all in the Balearic Islands (Spain), and Iles d'Hyères, France. It has been more recently introduced to Mallorca and Formentera (Speybroeck et al. 2016, Geniez 2018), and has become invasive in the latter island.

The species ranges from sea level to more than 2,200 m asl. The highest reported elevation is 2,246 m asl in the Baetic Sierras (Geniez 2018). It is however generally found below 700 m asl (Speybroeck et al. 2016).

It is generally an abundant species. A study modelling population trends based on citizen science data collected between 1980 and 2017 (Spain) and 1980 and 2018 (Languedoc, France) found that the population was stable in Spain and had declined by 65.55% in France over this period, corresponding to a decline of 25.21% over a presumed three generation period of 15 years (Santos et al. 2022).

This species can be found in sunny Mediterranean-type habitats with good vegetation cover, particularly riparian habitats close to cereal crops. It particularly favours scrubby habitats such as maquis, vineyards with dry stone walls, and overgrown gardens (Speybroeck et al. 2016). It can also be found in open woodlands and dune areas (Speybroeck et al. 2016), at field edges, and in hedges, olive groves. Animals are highly mobile, with "relatively large" home ranges, and are active almost year-round (February to November, and activity can be observed during other months during sunny weather) (Speybroeck et al. 2016). At higher elevations it can be found in areas such as open pine forest with rocky areas (Speybroeck et al. 2016). Mating takes place between April and June, with relatively small clutches of of rather large eggs (mean 7.4 in Spain and 9.2 in Languedoc based on sources compiled by Santos et al. 2022) laid in September and October) Pleguezuelos et al. 2006). It has an assumed generation length of 5 years (Santos et al. 2022), inferred by these authors to be a year later than age at maturity.

Although there appear to be no major threats to this species, it is locally threatened by accidental mortality on roads (populations near roads are disappearing) and loss of vegetation cover due to intensive agricultural methods.

This species has been introduced outside its native range by cargo with old ornamental olive trees, but it is not deliberately harvested to any significant degree and is unlikely to be currently traded in high numbers.

It is listed on Annex III of the Bern Convention and it is present in many protected areas. The exotic populations in Formentera and Ibiza are subject to invasive species control efforts (J.M. Pleguezuelos pers. comm. 2023).