This species is restricted to seasonally shaded, north-facing slopes of canyons located in arid to semi-arid terrain. In Caliente Canyon, they are associated with granitic or limestone talus and scattered rocks, where the vegetation consists of pine, oak, cottonwood, sycamore, and California buckeye. In the Tehachapi Mountains, this species occurs in areas of downed wood or talus. Juveniles are rarely found, which suggests that hatching may occur in the spring as surface activity declines and that juveniles may remain underground (Green et al. 2014). It is a terrestrial breeder and a direct developer. This species' tolerance to disturbance is unknown.

This species is known from two small areas, northern and southern subpopulations, in and around the Tehachapi and Piute mountains of Kern County, California. The northern subpopulations are centered around Caliente Canyon and its sub-drainages, but records extend from Tehachapi Creek eastward into the Piute Mountains and Jawbone Canyon at elevations between 550-1,700 m asl (Hansen and Wake 2005, Green et al. 2014, Evelyn 2016). Southern subpopulations are known from Tejon Canyon southwest to the vicinity of Fort Tejon and Grapevine Canyon at elevations between 945-1,820 m asl (Hansen and Wake 2005, Green et al. 2014, Evelyn 2016). Its distribution is likely spotty but is thought to be somewhat continuous in good habitat (NatureServe 2020). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 2,631 km².

Conservation Actions In-Place
Within Caliente Canyon, this species' known habitat occurs on a mix of private land and public lands administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (USFWS 2011). Much of this public land occurs as inholdings surrounded by private land and access controlled by those land owners (C.J. Evelyn pers. comm. August 2021). Much of the Tehachapi Mountains and adjoining areas are inaccessible owing to a combination of rugged terrain and private ownership. This species is listed as Threatened by the state of California, as Sensitive by the U.S. Forest Service, and as a Species of Concern by the U.S. government (Green et al. 2014). 

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
Continued and strengthened management of protected area(s) where this species occurs, specifically strengthened protection from logging and other habitat alterations is needed. The acquisition of private lands, especially in the Tehachapi Mountains, is recommended.

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