It is endemic to the deep South, where it occurs in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

[1] This may be a species complex that could be split into different taxa as research indicates;[3] the Apalachicola (N. moleri) and Escambia (N. mounti) waterdogs were split from this species in 2020; previously, they were all grouped together as the Gulf Coast waterdog.

It exhibits neoteny, retaining its gills and larva-like tail into adulthood.

It can be distinguished from N. moleri and N. mounti (formerly thought to be conspecific) by its comparatively larger size, heavier spotting, and the unstriped larvae with numerous white spots.

[4] Individuals of both sexes move more during the colder months of the year and seem to use one site as a home area from which they occasionally exhibit long-distance movements.