This terrestrial species inhabits chaparral, coastal live-oak woodlands, canyons, washes at the base of grass-covered hills, rural gardens, urban areas, and in trash. It retreats to burrows or underground crevices in sandy or gravelly soil during cold or dry weather. It can be found under rocks and litter in the wet season. It species reproduces by direct development. It seems able to cope with habitat modifications.

This species occurs in southern California in the United States of America from the base of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains south to the vicinity of El Rosario in Mexico. There is an isolated population in the San Pedro Mártir Mountains, Baja California, Mexico; and on Catalina, Los Coronados, and Isla Todos Santos Sur, USA (Stebbins 1985, Jockusch et al. 2001). The San Pedro Mártir subpopulation might be a distinct species. The subspecies Batrachoseps major aridus is known only from Hidden Palm Canyon, Riverside County, California, USA. The species has been recorded at elevations between 300 and 1,000m asl.

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species occurs in the protected area Sierra San Pedro Mártir National Park.