This species inhabits densely vegetated forested valleys, where it breeds by larval development in highland lakes, pools, ponds and paddy fields (F. Xie pers. comm. June 2019). During the day adults often hide in vegetation and go out at night to forage insects and other small animals. The breeding season lasts from May–June, and during this time the females can lay 250–274 eggs. Single eggs disperse among aquatic plants or sink to the bottom. Eggs and larvae develop in water, and usually complete metamorphosis within the year.

This species is endemic the Ta-liang Mountains of southern Sichuan, China. It occurs at elevations between 1,300–3,200 m asl. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 30,831 km².

Conservation Actions In-Place
The range of this species overlaps with several protected areas in the region (e.g. Lizhiping National Nature Reserve). It is listed as a class II protected species under China's wild animal protection law. Captive breeding is currently being undertaken in Germany and the Netherlands.

Conservation Needed
Continued and strengthened management of protected area(s) where this species occurs, and expanded protection of wetlands elsewhere in its range is needed. Additionally, it is recommended that community education and outreach programs be created and implemented,

Research Needed
Further research on this species' distribution, population size and trends is recommended. Further research on harvest and use trends is also recommended. There is a potential need for monitoring the population status of this species given the threats of over-collection and habitat loss.