It has a paler, fairly uniformly coloured underside, sometimes with white flecks, but is not spotted on the throat.

It is mainly aquatic, living in lakes, ponds, and the slower-moving parts of streams, often hiding under stones.

When on land, it does not stray far from water and inhabits maquis and woods, where it can be found in the undergrowth or under fallen logs and rocks.

She then lays about 30 large, yolky eggs, which are deposited in crevices and under stones, and she guards them until they hatch about 50 days later.

Threats that might occur include pollution of the streams and lakes in which it lives, the introduction of trout which compete for food and may also prey on it, and the destruction of its habitat and consequent fragmentation of populations.