[8] The species is only found on the southern slopes of the Cape Fold Belt from Swellendam to the Outeniqua Mountains, at elevations of up to over 1,000 m (3,300 ft).

It is a burrowing species inhabiting fynbos and forest fringes and does not require the presence of open water.

Breviceps fuscus is a burrowing frog, and can be found in tunnels up to 150 mm deep or among vegetation up to about 30 cm above the ground, and it generally prefers to avoid water.

[3] The frog generally spends most of its time underground as it does not require open water and is primarily nocturnal.

[3] Like frogs in the family Brevicipitidae in general,[10] Breviceps fuscus show direct development[1][3] (i.e., there is no free-living larval stage).

[11] This means that the breviceps fuscus does not have tadpoles and instead has young which emerge from the egg as smaller versions of the adults.

[8] When in danger, they fill up with air to appear bigger in an attempt to ward off predators like bush pigs, birds, and snakes.