This species occurs in mixed montane forest, where it is found under rocks, in holes, and under the bark of trees. It reproduces by direct development.

This species was previously only known from the east and northeast of Cerro Pico del Aguila in the Sierra de Malinaltepec, Guerrero, Mexico (Pérez-Ramos and Saldaña 2003). It has since been found at several localities in the Sierra de Malinaltepec, Guerrero, including near Carretera San Luis Acatlán-Tlapa de Comonfort (Campbell et al. 2013, S. Rovito pers. comm. August 2019). A potential record from Juxtlahuaca, Oaxaca (Matias Dominguez-Laso unpubl. data 2012) requires verification and is currently excluded from the distribution map (Mexico Red List Assessment Workshop October 2019). Its elevational range is between 1,600–2,370 m asl. The distribution is thought to contain five or fewer threat-defined locations, and the extent of occurrence (EOO) is 232 km².

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species is not found in any protected areas. 

Conservation Needed
Habitat protection is required at sites where this species is known to occur. Proactive, precautionary steps should be taken to detect the arrival of Bsal in Mexico through the swabbing of both wild and imported salamanders, in addition to a total ban on the importation of non-native salamanders (Mexico Red List Assessment Workshop October 2019).

Research Needed
Further population and distribution studies are needed within the Sierra Madre del Sur region.