It is endemic to the Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania and is only known from its type locality in the Mkalazi Valley.

[1] The specific name poyntoni honours John Poynton [fr],[3][5] a South African herpetologist[5] whose work has "greatly improved the understanding of the amphibians of Tanzania".

[3] The type locality is moist submontane rainforest, close to a stream, at elevations of 1,200 m (3,900 ft) above sea level.

[3] Breeding strategy of this species is unknown, but like other members of its genus, it is probably a live-bearer giving birth to tiny toadlets.

However, later targeted searches have failed to see or hear any individuals, suggesting a population decline, or perhaps even that it is already extinct.