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This species is known from north-central Myanmar (Zug et al. 1998), through mainland Thailand (Taylor 1962), southern Lao People's Democratic Republic (Stuart 1999), and Cambodia (Bourret 1942), to southern Viet Nam, from southern Gai Lai Province to the Mekong River (Orlov et al. 2002). It is found up to 600m asl.

It is locally common at breeding sites, but is otherwise a highly cryptic fossorial species, only occasionally seen on the forest floor (Zug et al. 1998). Large numbers are traded for consumption in rural markets, indicating either large populations, or intensive collection at limited breeding sites (Taylor 1962; P. van Dijk pers. comm.).

It is an inhabitant of dipterocarp forest and other deciduous forest areas, and breeds in seasonal or temporary deep rain pools (Heyer 1973; Inger and Colwell 1977; Zug et al. 1998).

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This species is threatened by local consumption in substantial numbers in parts of Thailand and Lao People's Democratic Republic, where it is collected during breeding seasons. The females found in markets in Thailand are getting smaller, suggesting an adverse effect of collection on the species. It is apparently not greatly affected by forest degradation, but it is generally not commensal in human habitation or agricultural landscapes.

• 2.1.3 Agro-industry farming
• 5.1.1 Intentional use (species is the target)
• 7.1.3 Trend Unknown/Unrecorded
• 5.3.5 Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded
• 2.1.2 Small-holder farming

It inhabits many protected areas in the region, and ensuring their integrity (particularly by preventing collection of frogs at breeding sites) should go a long way towards securing the conservation of this species. The effects of harvesting of non-protected populations should also be investigated.

• 6.1 Linked enterprises & livelihood alternatives
• 2.1 Site/area management
• 1.2 Resource & habitat protection

Listed as Near Threatened because this species is in significant decline (but at a rate of less than 30% over ten years) because it is being over-harvested for food throughout its range, making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable.

• Bourret, R. 1942. Les Batraciens de l'Indochine. Institut Oceanographique de l'Indochine.
• Heyer, W.R. 1973. Ecological Interactions of frog larvae at a seasonal tropical location in Thailand. Journal of Herpetology: 337-361.
• Inger, R.F. and Colwell, R.K. 1977. Organization of contiguous communities of Amphibians and Reptiles in Thailand. Ecological Monographs: 229-253.
• Murphy, R.W. n.d.. Pictorial Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Cat Tien N.P. Mimeograph.
• Orlov, N.L., Murphy, R.W., Ananjeva, N.B., Ryabov, S.A. and Cuc, H.T. 2002. Herpetofauna of Vietnam, A checklist. Part I. Amphibia. Russian Journal of Herpetology: 81-104.
• Stuart, B.L. 1999. Amphibians and Reptiles. In: Duckworth, Salter and Khounboline (eds), Wildlife in Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report, pp. 43-67. IUCN/WCS/CPAWM, Vientiane.
• Zug, G.R., Htun Win, Thin T., ThanZawMin, WinZawLhon, KyawKyaw. 1998. Herpetofauna of the Chatthin W.S., North-central Myanmar with preliminary observations of their natural history. Hamadryad: 111-120.