It inhabits dense, aquatic vegetation fringing marshes, lakesides, lagoons, swamps, flooded pastures and sometimes dry grassland, in the lowlands to 600 m, but with records to 1,400 m at Yacambú. In hilly country, it occurs in small ponds at least partly bordered by reeds and grasses and with some fringing vegetation or adjacent forested slopes. In more open country, it has been found in lakes, pools or marshes with rich or very dense, undisturbed aquatic vegetation. Several known areas are artificial ponds, and it seems to be able to survive in small roadside and pastureland water bodies as long as there is lush marginal vegetation (Boesman in litt. 2012, P. Clavijo Michelangeli in litt. 2012). In Zulia, it has been recorded from shrimp farms and drainage ditches (V. Morón-Zambrano in litt. 2012). It probably breeds in May-July, with young fledging in August-September (Boesman 1997).

Laterallus levraudi occurs on the lower Caribbean slope of north-west Venezuela, in eastern Zulia (V. Morón-Zambrano in litt. 2012), Barinas, Portuguesa, Falcón, Lara, Yaracuy, Carabobo, Aragua, Distrito Federal and Miranda. Until 1995, the only post-1946 records were from Yacambú (Lara), Morrocoy (Falcón) (Lentino and Goodwin 1991) and Embalse de Taguaiguai (Aragua). However, surveys in 1995-1996 identified seven new localities in east Falcón and west Carabobo (Boesman 1997). The first records for Barinas and Portuguesa were in 1998, with subsequent records from eastern Zulia (V. Morón-Zambrano in litt. 2012), and by 2012 the species was known from 32 localities (Sharpe et al. 2001, Hilty 2003, V. Morón-Zambrano in litt. 2012, Sharpe and Ascanio 2015, Taylor et al. 2015). It is probable that deforestation along the eastern flank of the Andes, together with the construction of dykes and pools for watering cattle, has allowed the species to spread southwards through Falcón, Yaracuy and Barinas (Sharpe et al. 2001) and westward to the Maracaibo Basin (C. J. Sharpe in litt. 2017).

Conservation Actions Underway
Considered Endangered at the national level in Venezuela (Sharpe 2008, Sharpe and Ascanio 2015). It occurs in Yacambú and Morrocoy National Parks. However, there are no significant wetland areas in Yacambú, where it inhabits a man-made pond.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey (in May-August, when birds are most vocal) to locate additional populations and reassess overall population size (Boesman 1997). Identify specific threats (Boesman 1997). Monitor known populations to determine trends (C. J. Sharpe, J. P. Rodríguez and F. Rojas-Suárez in litt. 1999). Assess its ecological requirements (Boesman 1997, C. J. Sharpe, J. P. Rodríguez and F. Rojas-Suárez in litt. 1999), in particular to determine the benefit to the species of artificial pools. Develop a conservation strategy (Boesman 1997, C. J. Sharpe, J. P. Rodríguez and F. Rojas-Suárez in litt. 1999). Manage important wetlands (e.g. Guataparo Lake, Tacarigua and Canoabo dams and San Pablo marsh) (Boesman 1997).