Black Warrior waterdogs depend on specific stream substrates for normal and robust life processes such as breeding, rearing, protection of young, protection of adults when threatened, foraging and feeding. Preferred substrates are dominated by clay or bedrock with little sand, also containing abundant rock crevices and rock slabs for retreats, or shelter, and areas for egg laying.?? 

Larval and adult Black Warrior waterdogs are assumed to be opportunistic carnivores,?but prey taken in the wild has not been described. Adults are attracted to traps baited with fish-flavored cat food. Captive Black Warrior waterdogs have eaten small fish and earthworms. Crayfish, isopods, amphipods, freshwater clams and insects, including mayflies, caddisflies, dragonflies,?beetles and midges, have been reported as prey items in Gulf Coast waterdogs, a similar species.? 

The Black Warrior waterdog is a large, aquatic salamander that permanently retains larval characteristics such as external gills. It has a flattened head and body, laterally compressed tail and four toes on each of its four feet.   

Measurements
Larvel length: 1 to 2 inches (28 to 48 millimeters)
Sub-adult length: 1.5 to 4 inches (40 to 100 mm)
Adult length: Maximum of 9.5 inches (240 mm)

Larval Black Warrior waterdogs are dark brown or black on their dorsum, meaning upper surfaces, and have two light stripes running along their sides. Sub-adults do not have the stripes that are present on larvae and are not conspicuously marked,?although they do have a dark stripe extending from the nostril through the eye to the gills. Adults are usually brown, may be spotted or unspotted, and retain the dark eye stripe.