This species inhabits semi-arid and arid lowlands such as mesquite and shrublands. It is also known from grasslands, rocky wooded hills, marsh edges, near springs, streams, and rain pools, river floodplains, scrub desert, and cultivated fields. Individuals hide in rotten logs and stumps, burrows, and under rocks and other cover when inactive. Eggs and larvae develop in temporary pools formed by heavy rains and larger ponds that dry up in some years. Breeding is by larval development.

The range of this species spans from extreme southern Nebraska into most of Kansas and east through central Missouri along the Missouri River Valley, and continues south into Oklahoma and Texas in the US, and then continues to central Chihuahua through Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and extreme east San Luis Potosí and adjacent Veracruz in Mexico. Disjunct subpopulations occur in with Oklahoma Panhandle, southeastern Colorado, western Kansas, central Arkansas, and southwestern New Mexico (Green et al. 2014). Western subpopulations ranging from southern Arizona to central Nayarit that were once considered conspecific have been now recognized as a distinct species, Gastrophryne mazatlanensis (Streicher et al. 2012). It occurs at elevations ranging from sea level to 1,250 m asl (Green et al. 2014).

Conservation Actions In-Place
Some subpopulations of this species inhabit Biosphere Reserves and other protected areas. The remaining subpopulations are not in need of conservation measures at present. This species is protected by Mexican law under the "Special Protection" category (Pr). In the USA, this species is listed a a Species of Special Concern in Colorado and are listed as Endangered in New Mexico.

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