It is endemic to Colombia and only known from the area of its type locality in the northwestern part of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, in the Magdalena Department.

Skin is smooth on the front part of the head but otherwise bears granules, tubercles, and warts; these are especially prominent in the tympanic area.

There is a dark brown X-like mark between the eyes and the suprascapular area with spots, and an inverted V-shaped in the back.

Ventral coloration is olive, cream or rust with light green, pale lilac or brown spots, specks or vermiculations.

The species is present in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park as well as in the adjacent El Dorado Nature Reserve.