Preserved specimens have greenish tan color that is lighter on the ventral side.

[6] Atelopus cruciger was historically abundant and widely spread in the Venezuelan Coastal Range at elevations up to 2,400 m (7,900 ft) above sea level, although most records were from gallery, cloud, and semi-deciduous forests at 500–2,000 m (1,600–6,600 ft) above sea level.

These frogs are diurnal and often found on stones, but can also climb to vegetation up to 1.5 meters above the ground.

These are all at low altitudes (220–500 m (720–1,640 ft)) on the northern slope of the Henri Pittier National Park.

Air pollution (acid rain) could also be a contributing factor, given the proximity to the industries in the Valencia-Maracay area.