This is a largely aquatic, montane species associated with cold, small, clear rivers, streams and springs often located in shady deciduous and mixed forest. It may also occur in moors and meadows, and around glacial pools in lakes. Breeding and larval development takes place in water with high concentrations of oxygen, therefore predominantly in fast running streams and rivers. It is presumed that the species can tolerate some slight habitat modification.

This species is endemic to Europe, where it is restricted to the Balkans, ranging from the northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina (Šukalo et al. 2015), through western, central and southern Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, most of mainland Greece, and east to southwestern and southern Bulgaria (Jablonski et al. 2021). The presence of the species in eastern Croatia (not mapped) is possible but not confirmed (D. Jablonski pers. comm. April 2023), and the species has not yet been confirmed for the western parts of the Thrace region of Türkiye (Kurnaz 2020, Jablonski et al. 2021). The species occurs between 200-2,000 m asl.

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species is listed on Annex IV of the EU Natural Habitats Directive and Appendix III of the Bern Convention. It is protected by national legislation in Serbia (Anonymous 2010). It occurs in a number of protected areas. The species has been assessed as Least Concern for Greece (E.-A. Toli, unpublished draft).

Conservation Needed
Improved management is required for the protected areas, in light of the extensive hydro-power development that is occurring within these areas (J. Crnobrnja-Isailović pers. comm. September 2019).

Research Needed
Population monitoring is recommended for this species.