It is found in the Pacific slopes of the Talamanca-Barú Massif of Costa Rica and western Panama.

[1][3] The specific name rhyacobatrachus is derived from Greek batrachos (for "frog") and rhyaco ("torrent"), in reference to the torrential streams that this species inhabits.

The dorsum is tan to olive brown, heavily spotted or blotched with even darker markings.

The venter is pale yellow and is heavily marked brown, as is the throat and chest.

In addition to habitat loss, the decline is assumed to be caused by chytridiomycosis.