This species is primarily crepuscular and nocturnal but exhibits intermittent daytime activity. It is present in a wide variety of Mediterranean habitats including open, sandy coastal areas, pastures, vineyards, woods and both dry and mesic forests, often in dense vegetation close to waterbodies. In Sicily, subpopulations have been associated with irrigation channels, water cisterns, pipes and canals in cultivated areas. Breeding has been recorded in artificial waterbodies such as drinking troughs (K. Merabet pers. comm. 2020). The introduced population in mainland Europe (Martínez del Mármod et al. 2019) can breed year-round, but reproductive activity is highest between February and April (Ben Hassine and Nouira 2012, Ben Hassine and Escoriza 2017).

A female can lay up to 1,500 eggs in a day (Martínez del Mármod et al. 2019) and can spawn up to five or six times per year (Knoepffler 1962). In semiarid and arid areas it is confined to riparian habitats (Ben Hassine and Nouira 2012). It can be found in rubbish dumps (Martínez del Mármod et al. 2019). It breeds in most types of still and running water habitats (though mainly in lentic waterbodies, ranging from temporary puddles to reservoirs; Ben Hassine and Escoriza 2017), and is sometimes present in marshes and brackish water.

In the European region, this species is native to the islands of Sicily (Italy), Malta and Gozo (Malta) (Martínez del Mármol et al. 2019). It occurs in the Spanish enclave of Melilla. It has been introduced to southern France (from a source population in northern Algeria (Lanza et al. 1986, Martínez-Solano 2004), and has expanded its range from there to northeastern Spain (Girona and Barcelona Provinces), and is continuing to expand its range (Escoriza and Boix 2012). It's overall native range in Europe is estimated as 321,152 km² (including Melilla and Ceuta). It has been recorded from sea level to 1,500 m asl on Sicily (Lo Valvo et al. 2017).

Out of the above restricted European range, this species is distributed throughout North Africa (northern Algeria, Tunisia and northeastern Morocco).

Conservation Actions In-Place
The species is present in protected areas in Italy and probably elsewhere within its range. It is listed on Appendix II of the Bern Convention and on Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive. It is also protected by national legislation in France, Italy, Malta, and is listed in the Regional Catalogue of Cataluña, Spain.

Conservation Actions Needed
No particular conservation actions appear to be needed for this species at present, although monitoring of local subpopulations in areas where these are thought to be at risk may benefit this species.

Research Needed
Research is recommended to clarify the impacts of identified and potential threats.