[2] The two species have only a narrow contact zone and can be distinguished based on genetic markers, calls, and morphology.

[2] The specific name otai honours professor Hidetoshi Ota, in recognition of his "great contribution to herpetology and biogeography in East Asia".

Calling males at night shows a range of colors, from gray, yellow, gold, light brown, to dark orange.

The chin has small irregular mottling and there are tiny white spots on the ventral side of the thighs.

They are primarily found in small ditches or shallow waters near the streams, rather than in the major river course.

Similarly to Buergeria choui, this species has a tolerance to high temperatures found in hot springs.