This species inhabits mostly mixed pine-oak woodland and chaparral in areas where there may be extreme summer heat and drought. Individuals are typically found beneath rocks, bark rubble, or downed logs, and prefer areas that receive little direct sunlight during the winter, such as narrow, shaded ravines (Green et al. 2014). It is thought to breed by direct development.

This species occurs from the lower Merced River Canyon north to the American River drainage on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, California (Jockusch et al. 1998, Green et al. 2014). It is unclear if this species' range extends north of I-80, therefore this area of the map has been coded as "Presence Uncertain." It has been found at elevations up to 900 m asl (E. Jockusch pers. comm. July 2021).

Conservation Actions In-Place
Portions of this species' range may fall within protected areas, including Bureau of Land Management (BLM) parcels in Calaveras County, Stanislaus National Forest, Sierra National Forest, and Army Corps of Engineer land (E. Jockusch pers. comm. July 2021).

In an effort to prevent the introduction of Bsal into the US, an Interim Rule of the Lacey Act has been enacted that bans the importation of 201 species of salamanders (USFWS 2016). Additionally, a temporary voluntary trade moratorium of imports of Asian salamander species that are known to carry the disease until such time as effective testing and treatment regimens can be developed and distributed has been recommended to all exporters, shippers, sellers and buyers by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC). A North America Bsal Task Force has also been created, with working groups designed to address a variety of disease prevention and mitigation goals (North America Bsal Task Force 2021).

Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats.