Adults are found along densely shaded, narrow, shallow, slow-flowing, clear water streams in undisturbed montane and moist forests (Auguste 2018), where they engage in elaborate courtship and defensive behaviours. A terrestrial species, it lays its eggs in leaf-litter and on rocks near streams and the adults carry the tadpoles on their backs to the deeper stream pools. The subpopulations in Tamana caves in central Trinidad are known to use the cave ponds for their tadpoles. Tadpoles in other subpopulations have also been found in still temporary pools far from streams, including in tree buttress roots. The exact deposition site appears to be dependent on the presence of predators, with adults migrating significant distances in search of predator-free pools (Downie et al. 2001, Jowers and Downie 2005). However, tadpoles are sometimes known to prey upon their own kin (Auguste and Angeli 2018). The animals in Tamana cave depend on the insects that eat bat guano for food; elsewhere, they feed on a range of small insects commonly found on the forest floor.

This species is present in the Northern and Central Ranges of the island of Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (Jowers and Downie 2004, Auguste 2018). It has also been recorded from one locality in the Southern Range, the Rio Claro-Mayaro area (Mohammed et al. 2014). It occurs from sea level up to 500 m asl and its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 3,720 km².

Conservation Actions In-Place
It occurs within Matura Forest Reserve (Auguste 2019).

Conservation Needed
Continued and strengthened management of protected area(s) where this species occurs is needed.

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