habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
It is known from montane forest and mid-high-altitude grassland (J. Harvey pers. comm. August 2009). It appears to be strongly associated with riparian zones, and in grassland sites, with very dense vegetation (J. Harvey pers. comm. 2006). Most sites from which it has been recorded are surrounded, and isolated, by exotic tree plantations (J. Harvey pers. comm. August 2009). It generally prefers steep slopes, close to seepages. It breeds in decaying vegetation at the base of grass and sedge tussocks on grassy slopes in the mist belt of the escarpment. Males call from well-concealed positions at the bases of grass tussocks by day, while at night they climb to calling positions about 20 cm below the tips of grass stems. Calling (and therefore breeding) activity is at its peak from November-January, but also occurs in October and through to April. There are 11–14 eggs per clutch, which are laid on damp soil or vegetation and develop directly, without a larval stage. Tadpoles metamorphose into tiny froglets within the egg, and the froglets, 4 mm long, emerge from the egg capsule 27 days after being laid (Dawood and Stam 2006).