It lives in a variety of forest from tropical to subtropical in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.

This species is diurnal, arboreal and feeds on fruit, vegetable matter, and insects.

It often seen in small groups and uses tree holes for shelter.

[4][5] The rapid uplift of the Himalayas is believed to have caused the diversification of the three main Tamiops lineages.

Multiple divergences from 5.8 to 1.7 mya likely led to the formation of modern Tamiops species.