This species is found in cool, damp alpine meadows, stony pastures, dwarf heath and mixed, broadleaf and coniferous woodland. Animals are usually hidden below stones and logs, but can be encountered in shady places, or after rain, during the day. The species is unusual in that it has a ovi-viviparous method of reproduction by which it gives birth on land to an average of two fully metamorphosed offspring; the gestation period is between two and four years. It may be found in pastureland and other slightly modified habitats. It is not associated with water.

S.a. aurorae is strictly associated with mature forest habitats.

This species is endemic to Europe, where it is present in the European Alps (including a recently discovered subpopulation close to the village of Samoëns in the Département de la Haute-Savoie, France), with isolated subpopulations in the Balkan Dinaric Alps in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and northern Albania. It occurs at elevations between 400 and 2,800 m asl (more frequent between 800–2,000 m asl).

Although their taxonomic status requires confirmation, the subspecies Salamandra atra aurorae is restricted to the “sette Comuni” plateau and east almost up to the Piana di Marcesina in northeast Italy (between 1,300 and 1,800 m asl), on the Venetian Prealps and in a small portion of the Trento province. The subspecies S. a. pasubiensis occurs only on the southern slope of Monte Pasubio (Veneto region), with some other reports on the same mountain massif lacking confirmation.

Conservation Actions In-Place
The species is protected by national legislation in most range countries (e.g. Switzerland, Slovenia) and it is present in a number of protected areas, including in Natura 2000 sites (e.g., Monti Lessini - Pasubio - Piccole Dolomiti Vicentine (IT3210040) and Altopiano dei Sette Comuni IT3220036). It is listed on Appendix II of the Bern Convention and Salamandra atra aurorae is listed on Annex II of the EU Natural Habitats Directive under the name 'Salamandra salamandra aurorae'; both this species and 'Salamandra aurorae' are also listed on Annex IV of the Directive. The subspecies S. a. aurorae is present in the Natura 2000 site of Cima Dodici (10,450 ha) while S. a. pasubiensis occurs in the Natura 2000 site Pasubio e Piccole Dolomiti (1,920 ha).

Gasc et al. (1997) considered Salamandra atra aurorae to be highly endangered.

Conservation Needed
Kalezic and Dzukic (2001) suggest the establishment of a protected area on Prokletije Mount would significantly aid the conservation of this species in the Dinaric Alps. There is also an urgent need for an EU (European Union)-wide coordinated approach and implementation of the Bsal Action Plan by Gilbert et al. (2020), which was commissioned by the European Commission.