This aquatic species inhabits clear, unpolluted swift-flowing mountain streams and rivers in lowland rainforests, where it usually floats near the surface of the water unless disturbed, when it will hide under submerged rocks. It is sensitive to habitat alteration, pollution and human disturbances (Schoppe and Cervancia 2009), seems to be restricted to less disturbed areas (E. Jose pers. comm. January 2018), and has not been found in open habitats outside forest. Tadpoles have never been observed, and eggs collected from gravid females were large, unpigmented, and few in number (Inger 1954), suggesting that it could possibly reproduce by direct development (Brown and Alcala 1983). However to date breeding habits have not yet been observed.

This species occurs on Busuanga (type locality), Culion, and Palawan Islands in the western Philippines. Additional sites on Palawan Island have been identified through surveys since the 2004 assessment: Cleopatra's Needle (Jose and van Beijnen 2017, N. Realubit pers. comm. May 2017), Taytay, and El Nido (E. Sy pers. comm. May 2017), and it has also been recorded from Balabac Island (Fidenci 2007). Records from Culion Island may be in error as surveys in 2009, 2011, and 2012 did not detect the species (L. Afuang pers. comm. May 2017, E. Jose pers. comm. January 2018), but are retained in this assessment until further verification. It is a lowland species occurring from sea level to 800 m asl (Philippines Red List Assessment Workshop May 2017).

Conservation Actions
This species occurs in the newly declared (2016) Cleopatra’s Needle Critical Habitat, Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape, the El Nido Managed Resource Protected Area on Palawan. At present, however, there are no management or enforcement systems in place (J. van Beijnen pers. comm. 2017).

The Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan for areas was put into place by the national government in 1992, which aims to divide the island into a network of environmentally critical areas above 1,000 m asl (ECAN - Environmentally Critical Areas Network). The plan is operationalized on a local level by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development. The map of these areas is currently being updated to include lowland areas below 1,000 m asl.

Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation is also managing about $30 million in funds from debt payments due to the United States government, which are instead allocated for spending during 2016–2026 towards forest protection in three priority areas: Palawan Island, the Sierra Madre on Luzon Island, and eastern Mindanao Island.

Conservation Needed
Despite being present in several protected areas, the species is still threatened by the continuing decline in the quality and extent of its habitat. Therefore, required conservation measures include the regulation and proper disposal of pesticides and herbicides, and the effective protection of remaining rainforest, especially riverine habitats and gallery forests. In addition, improved enforcement of the SEP is needed as it has had limited success due to challenges in implementation.

Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status and trends.