The poison coated ribs create a highly effective stinging mechanism, injecting toxins through the thin skin in predator's mouths.

The newt's effective immune system and collagen coated ribs mean the pierced skin quickly regrows without infection.

Though it is quite able to walk on land, most rarely leave the water, living usually in ponds, cisterns, and ancient village wells that were common in Portugal and Spain in the past.

It prefers cool, quiet, and deep waters, where it feeds on insects, aquatic molluscs,[6] worms, and tadpoles.

[7] Aromatase, an estrogen-synthesizing enzyme which acts as a steroid hormone, plays a key role in sex determination in many non-mammalian vertebrates, including the Iberian ribbed newt.

This species is generally threatened through loss of aquatic habitats through drainage, agrochemical pollution, the impacts of livestock (in North African dayas), eutrophication, domestic and industrial contamination, golf courses, and infrastructure development.

Introduced fish such as the largemouth bass and crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) are known to prey on the eggs and larvae of this species, and are implicated in its decline.

[14] It is a good model organism because of the female's ability to retain live sperm in her cloaca for up to five months, allowing her to be inseminated on Earth, and later (in space) have fertilisation induced through hormonal stimulation.

Another advantage to this species is that its development is slow; so all the key stages of ontogenesis can be observed, from the oocyte to swimming tailbud embryos or larvae.

Similar to other salamanders, P. waltl can regenerate lost limbs, injured heart tissue, lesioned brain cells in addition to other body parts such as the eye lens and the spinal cord.