It is known only from the Sainte Luce Reserve, where it inhabits areas with deep leaf litter near semi-permanent water bodies.

Mini scule was described in 2019 by herpetologist Mark Scherz and his colleagues based on an adult specimen (presumed to be male) collected in Sainte Luce Reserve in Anosy, Madagascar, in 2005.

[1] However, a 2021 phylogeny by Alain Dubois and colleagues instead suggests that to be monophyletic, both Plethodontohyla and Mini should be lumped with Cophyla.

[6] The following cladograms of the subfamily Cophylinae show the differing phylogenies found by the 2019 and 2021 studies:[1][6] Madecassophryne Anodonthyla M. mum M. ature M. scule Plethodontohyla Cophyla Platypelis Anilany Rhombophryne Stumpffia Scaphiophryne Paradoxophyla Rhombophryne Anodonthyla Platypelis Cophyla (including Mini) Mantipus

The underparts and upperparts have a distinct color border along the side of the body between the rib cage and hip.

The groin can have dark markings in some specimens, along with blacker flanks and a burnt umber crossband on the thighs and lower leg.

The species inhabits areas with deep leaf litter near semi-permanent water bodies like forest streams.

Although the species has not been assessed by the IUCN, the authors of the article in which it is described recommended that it be listed as critically endangered due to its extremely small range and degradation in the quality of the forest it inhabits.