It is endemic to the western flank of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia.

[1][3][4] The specific name ruthveni honors Alexander Grant Ruthven, an American herpetologist who was the first one to study .

An osteological difference is that C. ruthveni lacks the lateral expansion of the anterior part of the braincase seen in C.

Cryptobatrachus ruthveni occurs in riparian habitats in creeks at elevations of 1,000–1,600 m (3,300–5,200 ft) above sea level.

It is threatened by habitat loss and agrochemical pollution mainly caused by coffee plantations.