It is a terrestrial, diurnal species generally found in the leaf-litter of humid lowland and montane forest; it may be found in secondary forest and plantations. Adults are often encountered along rocky sections of forest streams. Eggs are deposited in leaf-litter, the males transport hatching tadpoles to forest streams where they develop.
One of Panama's most interesting endemic species, sound like birds chirping near streams, raise their young in rows on their backs and fascinating behaviour, but they are very aquatic and are devastated by Bd - even in lowland areas.