It is often abundant in grassy areas like meadows with rocks or dry stone walls, but seems to avoid human settlements - a rather shy and cautious species.

Podarcis waglerianus is an endemic species of Sicily: The Sicilian mainland and some adjoining islands are populated by subspecies waglerianus; subspecies marettimensis lives on Marettimo Island west of Sicily.

It may co-occur with Podarcis siculus but is smaller with a shorter head. Furthermore, at Podarcis siculus, the green colouration on the back ends at the hind legs, at Podarcis waglerianus it reaches the front part of the tail. In both species occur “concolor morphs” without dark markings.

Unlike Podarcis siculus, Podarcis waglerianus seems to avoid human settlements.