It inhabits primary lowland and montane forest (Liat et al. 2013). In the Ulu Langat Forest Reserve, this species seems to prefer moist habitats within forest. It is adapted to an aquatic lifestyle, living in wetlands, permanent rivers where the water is clean, and the banks of streams in intact forest, feeding on aquatic invertebrates (L. Lim pers. comm. 2017). It is not known whether or not it can adapt to disturbed habitats.

This species is known only from Peninsular Malaysia (Hutterer 2005). Liat et al. (2013) report that nine specimens were captured in forest reserves in Selangor, two in Pahang and one each in Perak, Kedah and Kelantan during the period from 1957 to 2009. It occurs mainly in hilly areas, where it occurs quite widely, most have been caught in hill forest between 600 and 800 m elevation, except one from mountain forest at 1,500 m and one from lowland forest below 200 m (Liat et al. 2013). Its range could extend as far as extreme southern Thailand, but there have been no records.

It occurs in Temengor Forest Reserve and Ulu Langat Forest Reserve (Hutterer 2005), and probably within other protected areas. Further studies are needed into the distribution, abundance, natural history, threats and conservation needs of this species (L. Lim pers. comm. 2017).