This species inhabits areas of moss-covered or barren limestone outcroppings and talus rubble. Individuals have also been found in rock crevices, as well as abandoned mine tunnels. The surrounding vegetation is largely chaparral, with a scattering of Gray Pine and, in more humid sites, California laurel. Individuals are typically found under rocks or logs, and most often occur on steep slopes, although they have also been recorded from relatively level ground. This species retreats underground into rock crevices, caves, mines, and other similar subterranean habitats during dry weather. It is a terrestrial breeder, and lacks a larval stage (Stebbins 2003, Wake and Papenfuss 2005, Green et al. 2014). This species has been noted to disappear from cleared areas, but its degree of tolerance to other levels of disturbance is unknown.

This species is found only in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada along a short stretch of the Merced River, stretching from the vicinity of the type locality on the main highway to Yosemite National Park, west to a region known as Hell Hollow, and a short distance up the North Fork of the Merced River in Mariposa County, California, USA (Wake and Papenfuss 2005, Green et al. 2014). It occurs at elevations between 200–900 m asl (Rovito 2010). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 1,603 km².

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species occurs in the Limestone Salamander Ecological Reserve (LSER) which protects 120 acres of habitat. The BLM-administered Limestone Salamander Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) encompasses 1,600 additional acres of confirmed and potential limestone salamander habitat and adjacent BLM lands along the Merced River and its tributaries in western Mariposa County (California Department of Fish and Game 1990, NatureServe 2020). It is also found in the Feliciana Mountain Limestone Salamander Reserve, which spans 40 acres along the rim of the Merced River Canyon (Sierra Foothill Conservancy 2020). This species is listed as Threatened under the State of California Endangered Species Act, is considered to be a Sensitive species by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and is currently under review for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act (USFWS 2015). The California Department of Fish and Wildlife lists this species as "Fully Protected."

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 management and enforcement of protected areas will be important for maintaining critical habitat within this species' range.

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