It is found on the rocky shores of southern Brazil, where it thrives in the shade of vegetated zones and grows directly on rocks away from other crustose lichens.

Calopadia saxicola stands out from its close relatives due to its well-defined thallus, reddish-brown disc, thicker hymenium, and smaller conidia.

The type specimen was discovered in Brazil, within the state of Santa Catarina, in the Municipality of Penha, on the rocky seashore just north of Praia Vermelha.

The conidia are filiform, curved with a single smooth clavate apex, and hyaline, typically measuring 45–55 by 2.0–3.5 μm, with 4–7 septa.

In comparison, C. chacoensis has a less defined and thinner thallus, a dark brown to black disc, and longer and narrower conidia.