This species is associated with shallow and slow-moving streams hill streams in montane shola forests (Biju et al. 2014) where is found in areas of the forest floor with high humus levels. It is also present in grasslands (Princy et al. 2017), but not in modified habitats. Breeding takes place in streams by larval development.

This species is restricted to the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the southern Western Ghats of India (Biju et al. 2014). Within this area it is present in Avalanche, Longwood Shola, and Naduvattam (Biju et al. 2014), Mukurthi National Park, Kotagiri, and Emerald in Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu state (Princy et al. 2017), as well as, Silent Valley National Park and Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary, both in Kerala (S. Das pers. comm. October 2020). It occurs at elevations between 1,700–2,600 m asl (India Red List Assessment Workshop October 2020). It possibly occurs more widely than current records suggest, especially in areas between known sites. It occurs in eight threat-defined locations, and its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 3,043 km².

Records from the Eravikulam National Park (in Kerala) have been reassigned to Micrixalus frigidus, and those from Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve have been reassigned to M. kodayari (India Red List Assessment Workshop November 2020).

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species occurs in Mukurthi National Park, Silent Valley National Park and Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary, all with varying levels of protection, and with more than 50% of the known population occurring in these areas (S. Das pers. comm. October 2020).

Conservation Needed
Improved habitat protection is required.

Research Needed
Further research is required on its natural history, and the species-specific effects of Bd and climate change. Population monitoring is also recommended (India Red List Assessment Workshop October 2020).