This species faces no major threats and is geographically widespread. It is therefore listed as Least Concern.

This species occurs from extreme southern Myanmar southward to Sundaland (Sumatra, Java, and Borneo). Its presence in Myanmar is marginal , where it is known only from an old record taken at Victoria Point (= Kawthaung) (Smith 1943), a border town at the southernmost tip of mainland Myanmar. There is one record from southern Thailand, from Sai Kao waterfall in Pattani reported by Taylor (1965), but there are no more recent records from this country. It is therefore considered rare ar the northern limit of its range (southern Myanmar and southern Thailand).

The species is seldom encountered, although it is common in Java (David and Vogel 1996). As it frequents irrigated cultivated fields and rice fields (Smith 1943; David and Vogel 1996) it may be increasing in population size.

The species is found from sea level to up to 1,300 m elevation, but is most common between 500 and 1,100 m. It is semi-fossorial and occurs in damp areas near water, including forests, swamps, and marshes, and especially rice fields. It feeds only on frogs. The species is oviparous and lays 2-4 eggs (Smith 1943, David and Vogel 1996). In Peninsular Malaysia it is found in swampy areas and streams up to 400 metres above sea level.

No major threats are apparent to this semi-fossorial, secretive species that is tolerant of wet agricultural lands such as rice fields. The species and its frog prey may however be susceptible to agricultural pollutants such as fertilizers and pesticides.

This species is not used or traded.

No conservation actions are in place.