This species is found in the mesophytic forest (maple, hickory, oak, poplar, and elm) bordering rocky feeder streams; under logs, bark, and leaf-litter on forest floor and along rocky streambeds. It is also found in moist forest on steep north-facing slopes with rock outcrops. Rock outcrops are a key feature of this species' habitat, as they provide refugia and nesting sites during the hot and dry summer months (Mann and Mann 2017). It is a terrestrial breeder with direct development in the same habitats. It is tolerant to some level of disturbance as it persists in secondary growth forest as well as suburban areas throughout much of its range.

This species can be found in eastern central Alabama and adjacent Georgia, with scattered, isolated subpopulations in western South Carolina (Greenwood, Edgefield, and McCormick counties), southwestern Alabama, southern Louisiana, and Mississippi, USA (Conant and Collins 1991, Highton 1986, Dundee and Rossman 1989, Lazell and Mann 1991, Petranka 1998). It occupies less than 4 hectares in Louisiana (S. Shively pers. comm. 1997). There is one documented site in excellent condition in Louisiana (S. Shively pers. comm. 1997). In Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina there are >100 extant occurrences (M. Bailey and S. Graham pers. comm. July 2021). It is difficult to distinguish from P. ventralis (formerly a form of P. dorsalis) and the two species' distributions overlap; this might result in an overestimate of population numbers. The condition of subpopulations is estimated to be 30% excellent, 20% good, 20% fair, and 30% poor (M. Bailey pers. comm. 1997). There are thirty-nine occurrences from 1980-1995 documented in South Carolina, and an estimated 21-100 extant occurrences; it has been extensively surveyed in the mid-1980s (S. Bennett pers. comm. 1997). It occurs at elevations below 400 m asl (NatureServe 2021).

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species occurs in several scattered protected areas (state parks, nature preserves, and national forest). It is listed as "Endangered" in South Carolina and as a "Species of Special Concern" in Louisiana.
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). 

Research Needed
Population monitoring is needed for those subpopulations suspected to have undergone a decline.