[1] It is found in a few alpine desert locations in Northwestern China, where it grows on old Pamirian winterfat shrubs.

The type specimen was collected from the Kunlun Mountains (Karakoram) at an altitude of 3,840 m (12,600 ft), where it was found growing on twigs of old Krascheninnikovia ceratoides shrubs.

[3] The thallus of Calogaya altynenis is orange to grey in colour and consists of scattered areoles or granules–sometimes barely conspicuous–around dispersed apothecia that are zeorine in form.

Blastidia (rounded granule-like propagules) occur on the fringes of the areoles, or as granules on the substrate; they are about 30–50 μm in diameter.

[2] At the time of its publication, Krascheninnikovia ceratoides was known to occur in three location in the Altyn-Tagh and Karakorum Mountains, at altitudes ranging between 3,730 and 4,160 m (12,240 and 13,650 ft).