This species is found in lentic and lotic groundwater habitats in Ordovician-and Mississippian-aged limestone caves. Individuals are most often found in low-velocity, shallow (< 1 m) pools in subterranean streams (Niemiller and Niemiller unpub. report 2021). It may also be found in rimstone pools, stream runs and pools, and pools isolated by receding waters. Water tends to be clear and free of sediment; substrates include rock, gravel, sand, and mud (Godwin 1995). Sinkholes are an important habitat component, allowing for detritus inflow (Caldwell and Copeland 1992). This species benefits from the inflow of organic detritus, as this supports the invertebrate community that serve as its prey base (Niemiller and Niemiller unpub. report 2021). Occasionally, this species occurs in epigean environments; probably these individuals have been washed out of caves (Bury et al. 1980). The habitats for breeding and non-breeding are likely to be the same, but courtship has never been observed in this species. Sexual maturity is thought to be reached in 2-6 years, and adults have a lifespan of 9-14 years or more (Niemiller and Niemiller unpub. report 2021). This species is unlikely to tolerate habitat disturbance.

This species can be found in the southern Cumberland Plateau of south central Tennessee and northeastern Alabama, in the Nashville Basin southeast of Nashville, Tennessee, and northwestern Alabama and northwestern Georgia, USA. Historically, it has been found across six counties in Alabama, one county in Georgia, and eleven counties in Tennessee. Several new sites close to the Cumberland River and middle Tennessee have been found in the past 20 years, including a range extension into Marshall county in Tennessee (M. Niemiller pers. comm. June 2021). Two isolated sites are known from the Outer Nashville Basin in Bedford County, Tennessee, and Limestone County, Alabama (Niemiller and Niemiller, unpub. report 2021). The distribution is not thought to have significantly expanded or contracted since its discovery in the mid-1940s. The new found sites are thought to reflect the existing knowledge gaps rather than a true range expansion (Niemiller and Niemiller unpub. report 2021). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 28,152 km².

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species occurs in Russell Cave National Monument (Godwin 1995), as well as in several other caves that are owned and/or managed by state or federal agencies or cave conservancies. Many of these sites restrict access, allowing only authorized individuals to enter, while others have been gated to protect sensitive species and resources. This species is listed as "Threatened" by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, as well as in Georgia under the Georgia Endangered Wildlife Act of 1973. In Georgia the associated protections of a "Threatened" status do not extend to individuals on private lands. This species is listed as a "Priority 2" species in Alabama, and is considered a nongame species with no allowable take except by special permit. It has been identified as a "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" in the State Wildlife Actions Plans of Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia (Niemiller and Niemiller unpub. report 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).

Conservation Needed
This species would benefit from increased protection of watersheds that drain into sinkhole systems (Petranka 1998). Continued rigorous management of the existing protected areas is the best guarantee for the conservation of this species.

Research Needed  
Long-term studies such as monitoring programmes are required to evaluate its population status.