They are found in small areas of Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.

[3] Its natural habitats are temperate forests, intermittent rivers, and freshwater springs.

It is very similar in its appearance and life history to the pygmy salamander (Desmognathus wrighti).

The seepage salamander is currently listed as Near Threatened, with its numbers declining in most of states in which it is found.

The seepage salamander has a pale dorsal stripe, with a wide, wavy to almost straight shape, and ranging in color from yellow or tan to reddish brown.

D. wrighti and D. aeneus are the smallest species in the genus Desmognathus and are the only terrestrial direct-developers, lacking a free-swimming larval stage.

Like all other plethodontids, the seepage salamander is lungless and respires through its skin and the lining of its mouth.

As with all species in Desmognathus, they have a pale line running diagonally from the eye to the angle of the jaw.

D. aeneus is a sister group to all species of Desmognathus except D. wrighti, which is an outgroup.

[6] D. aeneus and D. wrighti have distinct character differences from the rest of the Desmognathus species.

Since these two species branch the earliest, evolution has moved toward larger body size, lengthened larval periods, and more aquatic habitats within Desmognathus.

[9] They also might be found in Cherokee, Chilton, Etowah, Hale, and Tuscaloosa counties in Alabama, but may be extirpated from these locales.

[10] The food sources consists mainly of arthropods, especially insect larvae and springtails.

[12] Mites, spiders, earthworms, crustaceans, nematodes, myriapods, and snails have also been found to be eaten by seepage salamanders.

The seepage salamander is terrestrial and develop directly into juveniles, skipping the aquatic, larval stage.

Oviposition occurs in April and May, with all eggs ready for deposition by the female being laid.

The mating process consists of courting behavior, the tail straddling walk, sperm deposition in the form of a spermatophore, and insemination.

The seepage salamander is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN because their range is not greater than 20,000 km2 and its habitat and population size is decreasing.

Therefore, to decrease vulnerability of populations to certain forestry practices, buffers should be set up in susceptible areas around seepages and streams.