South of San Francisco and in Shasta Co., salamanders frequent the margins of permanent streams in redwood, Douglas-fir, and montane hardwood forests throughout the year. In other areas, they use perennial grass, wet meadow, montane riparian, valley-foothill hardwood, hardwood conifer, and riparian habitats. Prefers cool, moist and shaded conditions along ravines and water courses. In drier, northern portions of its range, aestivation occurs between April and October. It is active yearlong in moist habitats.
Females guard the nest.
Predators probably include garter snakes. The first specimens of Taricha rivularis and Aneides flavipunctatus from a cave. Lynch, J. F. 1974. Amphibians and Reptiles 158. Stebbins, R. C. 1954.