First described from the upper Potaro River based on specimens collected before 1905,[2] it is now known from a number of sites around the Pakaraima Mountains in west-central Guyana.

[1][3][4][5] The specific name lutzi honors Adolfo Lutz, a Brazilian medical entomologist and parasitologist[6] and a pioneer of herpetology.

The dorsal coloration is highly variable, and there are five major forms: (1) dark brown, grey or black ground color without or with a barely discernible pattern, (2) light–medium grey ground color with a well-defined pattern (a strongly marked dark brown–black inter-orbital bar and post-orbital ridges; chevron between shoulders almost continuous with round lumbar spots and irregular dark brown–black markings on the back), (3) as (2) but light grey, brown or reddish brown ground color and lighter, smaller, and much less evident/absent markings on the back, (4) similar to (2) but with dark brown to black mottling instead of well-defined markings on the back, and (5) dark grey to black ground color with large orange–orangish brown oblique lateral stripe, possibly with discernible darker markings.

The posterior surfaces of thighs are black with distinct yellow, orange, or red spotting or mottling.

[4] Adenomera lutzi occurs lowland and montane tropical primary forests at elevations of 430–1,500 m (1,410–4,920 ft) above sea level.