This rare species is endemic to the Western Ghats of India (mainly found in Idukki districts in Kerala). It is a fossorial species that burrow 1m - 3m underground for most of the year in the montane evergreen forests of the Ghats, at the heights of 850m -1,000m asl.

Conservation Status:

This species is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (https://www.iucnredlist.org/).

According to the IUCN Red List assessment, the population of this species is declining, and its current population size is unknown. Its Extent of Occurrence is less than 5,000 sq km, with all the individuals found in fewer than five locations. The main threat to its persistence comes from habitat degradation due to large-scale agriculture.