Metacrinia nichollsi is a squat frog with short limbs and reaches 25 millimetres (0.98 in) in length.

There are yellow or orange markings at the base of each arm and on the underside of the thighs and lower belly.

[3] This species is found amongst leaf litter, under stones and logs in karri and jarrah forests.

The males make a short "ark" similar to that of species in the genus Pseudophryne.

[5] 25–30 eggs are laid in damp ground cover where they develop directly without a larval (tadpole) stage.