It was discovered in 1997 on Mount Tchabal Mbabo in the Adamawa Plateau, western Cameroon, and described as a new species to science in 2000.

[1] This caecilian, the third species in the genus Crotaphatrema, is differentiated from the others by size, body shape, color pattern, and the lack of grooves on its collars.

The border between the dorsal and ventral coloration has a serrated pattern.

[2] The species is known only from the northern face of one mountain, where it was collected from forests on steep, sloping terrain at 1,950–2,000 m (6,400–6,560 ft) above sea level.

Mount Tchabal Mbabo has been proposed as a national park, which provide protection for the species' forest habitat.