It is endemic to Mexico and known from the southern and eastern margins of the Mexican Plateau between northern Morelos and northern Puebla.

[1][3] It was removed from the synonymy of Chiropterotriton chiropterus in 1994; unnamed species may also exist in this species complex.

[3] Its natural habitats are pine-oak and fir forests; it tolerates some habitat modification.

It is threatened by habitat loss caused by logging and human settlement.

[1] This lungless salamander article is a stub.