This species is closely associated with rodent burrows (created by species such as the California Ground Squirrel and Valley Pocket Gopher), as they rely on these burrows to serve as underground retreats, in and around which they spend a majority of the year. These burrows are typically located in open grasslands or beneath large oak trees, and they occasionally can be found in woodlands. The breeding season takes place from December-February, and this species breeds by larval development. Breeding habitats include fishless, shallow, ephemeral or semi-permanent pools and ponds that fill during heavy winter rains. Permanent ponds are also sometimes utilized. Eggs are laid on submerged stems and leaves (Trenham 2001, Alvarez 2004, Green et al. 2014). Larvae usually transform in 4 months, coinciding with the drying up of the vernal pools they inhabit in late Spring or Summer, although some larvae in permanent ponds may be able to overwinter (Behler and King 1979, Alvarez 2004). The reproductive rate for this species is very low, with some individuals breeding only once during their lifetime. A study conducted by Trenham (1998) found the average female bred 1.3 times and produced 8.5 young that survived to metamorphosis per reproductive effort. Additionally, this species may not breed during periods of drought, as this prevents the required breeding habitats from forming.

This species is endemic to California, USA where it is known from a highly fragmented range that includes the eastern Central Valley and follows a discontinuous distribution west of the Central Valley from Clear Lake south to Santa Barbara (Green et al. 2014). Based on genetic analysis, there are six major subpopulations of this species, which are distributed as follows: (1) Santa Rosa area of Sonoma County; (2) Bay Area (central and southern Alameda, Santa Clara, western Stanislaus, western Merced, and the majority of San Benito counties); (3) Central Valley (Yolo, Sacramento, Solano, eastern Contra Costa, northeast Alameda, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, and northwestern Madera counties); (4) southern San Joaquin Valley (portions of Madera, central Fresno, and northern Tulare and Kings counties); (5) Central Coast Range (southern Santa Cruz, Monterey, northern San Luis Obispo, and portions of western San Benito, Fresno, and Kern counties); and (6) Santa Barbara County (Shaffer and Trenham 2002, NatureServe 2020). The Sonoma County subpopulation is geographically separated from the nearest subpopulations (in Contra Costa, Yolo, and Solano counties) by the Coast Range, Napa River, and the Carquinez Straits (USFWS 2002). It occurs at elevations ranging from near sea level–1,054 m asl.

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species occurs in several state and regional parks and other at least semi-protected areas. Most subpopulations are on private land, with an estimated 5% of all known occurrences on government-owned lands. In Santa Barbara County, all of the known and potential habitat is largely on unprotected private land (USFWS 2000). This species is listed as a Species of Special Concern by the State of California. Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the subpopulations in Sonoma County and Santa Barbara County are listed as Endangered and those in Central California are listed as Threatened. The various primary and secondary threats are not currently being offset by existing Federal, State, or local regulatory mechanisms. This species is currently being monitored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency. 

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).

Conservation Needed
Habitat restoration and expanded protection of suitable habitat is recommended for this species, as is the continued and strengthened management of existing protected areas.

Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats. There is a need for monitoring the population status of this species given the threats of invasive species and ongoing habitat loss, as well as this species' vulnerability to stochastic events.