This species inhabits fast-flowing streams and lakes, as well as the surrounding broadleaf and coniferous forests. It sometimes also occurs in marshy grasslands. Breeding takes place by larval development in streams and lakes. Adults are primarily aquatic and tend to not occur far from streams. They prey primarily on shrimps, aquatic insects and their larvae, and earthworms. During the breeding season, females deposit paired oviposition bags, with one end that adheres to the bottom of stones in the stream. Each bag contains 5-23 eggs (Fei et al. 2012). The generation length for this species is estimated to be seven years.

This species is found in western Sichuan Province, China. It has been recorded from the Qionglai, Daxiangling, Xiaoxiangling and Daliang Mountain Ranges. Records from other provinces, including Guizhou, Shaanxi, and Yunnan, are now considered to be separate species. This species occurs at elevations ranging between 1,500-3,000 m asl (Fei et al. 2012).

Conservation Actions In-Place
Most of this species' range lies within protected areas. 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).

Conservation Needed
Continued and strengthened management of protected area(s) where this species occurs, and expanded protection of suitable habitat elsewhere in its range is needed. Legislation and enforcement of legislation are needed to address the issue of illegal collection. There is a need to develop measures, such as a harvesting and trade management plan where legal, to ensure that the offtake of this species from the wild is managed sustainably. The option of a captive-breeding programme might need to be explored as a method to reduce the exploitation of the wild population (F. Xie pers. comm. June 2019). It is also recommended that public outreach and awareness programs be established for this species, to help reduce harvesting pressure and encourage sustainable take. The option of a linked livelihood or enterprise system should also be explored.

Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats. Additionally, further research is needed to determine the impact of the recent disease outbreak. There is a need for monitoring the population status of this species given the threats of over-collection, hydropower development, and disease outbreak.