Overall this species is common and widespread,[1] but locally it has declined because of habitat loss and it is considered threatened in Indiana and New York.

[6] The larvae of this species have a stout head and body, dark in coloration, lack spots, and tend to have distinct mottling or streaks.

Lunglessness in this family may have evolved due to an adaptation for life in streams, and members of the family Plethodontidae probably did evolve other methods for respiration other than lungs (i.e. gills) due to enhanced survival of larval salamanders in fast-moving stream environments of southern Appalachia.

[10][11] Lungs in general help aquatic animals maintain position in the water column, but the larvae of Plethodontidae members are benthic creatures, therefore the adaptation of lunglessness would be beneficial to them since buoyancy would endanger their survival.

This subspecies is the most common and can be found from southern New York and Ohio to northeast Alabama, as well as the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

[6] The blackchin red salamander, P. r. schencki, differs in appearance by having strong black coloration under its chin, as well as spotting all the way to the tip of the tail.

All subspecies of P. ruber occupy moist environments such as under moss and stones near clear water sources such as streams or springs.

[13] Some important aquatic and terrestrial ecological aspects of this salamander include its diet, predators, and microhabitat preferences.

[16] The larval period varies between 27 and 31 months and then metamorphosis takes place in the spring and early summer of the third year.

[20] Due to its semiaquatic nature, the red salamander remains in terrestrial environments until early spring then disperses to more aquatic sites.

[13] Females typically lay eggs in the fall or early winter in headwater streams, have very well-hidden nests.

[29] More recently, red salamanders have been noted to have reduced palatability, so they are considered part of a Müllerian mimicry system in which all species are unpalatable and benefit from aposematic coloration.

[30] P. ruber possesses pseudotritontoxin that has adverse effects on mice including: hypertension of hind legs and lower back, irritability, hypothermia, coma, and death within 12-48 hours.

[31] Overall the red salamander is common and widespread,[1] but locally it has declined because of habitat loss and it is listed as an endangered species in Indiana.

[32] The red salamander is arguably one of the most primitive plethodontids, so is extremely valuable in understanding the links to ancestors and the evolutionary processes that have occurred.

Since the red salamander prefers streams that are relatively pure, it is important to monitor human waste and pollution, since debris and silt could have adverse effects on their habitat, potentially causing a threat to survival.