This species inhabits springs and small to medium sized streams. In portions of the range where it is sympatric with E. cirrigera this species is restricted to low elevations springs (T. Pierson pers. comm. May 2021). Relative to other species in the genus, adults are hard to find and thus little information is known about its terrestrial movements (T. Pierson pers. comm. May 2021). Individuals may disperse into wooded terrestrial habitats in wet, warm weather. Adults hide under objects in or near flowing water. Eggs are laid on/under submerged rocks, logs, or aquatic plants. Some species in the E. bislineata group have a 1-3 year aquatic larval stage.

This species occurs from northern Alabama to northwestern Georgia and north central Tennessee up the Tennessee River valley to around Knoxville. This species may also be found in adjacent northeastern Mississippi (Frost 2021). It occurs at low elevations.

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species occurs in a few protected areas. 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 rigorous management of the existing parks is the best guarantee for the conservation of this species.

Research Needed
Additional taxonomic research is needed, specifically relating to the species delimitation between this species and E. junaluska and E. cirrigera.