The species is native to Asia and Eastern Europe.

A large specimen from Putyatin Island measured up to 90 cm (3.0 ft) in length.

[4] E. dione is found in eastern Ukraine, southern and southeastern Russia, Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, Mongolia, parts of China, and Korea.

[1][2] It is found in a wide variety of habitats including forest, shrubland, grassland, rocky areas, desert, freshwater wetlands, and disturbed areas, at altitudes from sea level to 3,580 m (2.22 mi).

[5] E. dione is oviparous,[2] and adult females lay a clutch of 3–15 eggs in July or August,[1] though some can lay a clutch of up to 24 eggs.