It is an alpine species associated with the headwaters of streams, stream banks and the edges of glacial lakes in grassland habitats. It breeds in streams by larval development. Adults mainly inhabit terrestrial habitats and enter streams during reproductive period. They mainly prey on Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera and other insects and their larvae. The reproductive period is mostly from May–August. Females lay about 380 eggs, which are mostly found on the bottom of rounded stones near the source of the stream. Tadpoles are mostly found beneath the stones in the gentle flow of streams and streams. During the day, they disperse and conceal under the stones, and a few swim in the middle of the water (Fei et al. 2012). Information on the development of the tadpoles is given by Song and Huang (1990).

This species was previously only known from northwestern Nepal and western China in southeastern Qinghai, the eastern and southern part of Xizang, southern Gansu and northwestern Sichuan provinces. It is now also known from northcentral Nepal, east through Sikkim, India,  Singye Dzong, Lhuentse district in northeast Bhutan, and into China throughout southern Xizang and Sichuan, eastern Qinghai, and southern Gansu provinces (Anders 2002, Li et al. 2005, Li et al. 2010, Subba et al. 2015, Subba et al. 2016, Wangyal et al. 2020). Its elevational range is 3,300–5,270 m asl.

Conservation Actions In-Place
Most of this species' range lies within protected areas. In Bhutan it is known from Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary (J. Wangyal pers. comm. 2020). This species is on the "List of Beneficial or of Important Economic or Scientific Value Terrestrial Wild Animals under States Protection", under the protection of the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Wildlife", which provides a moderate degree of protection and makes it illegal to collect (China Red List Assessment Workshop June 2019).