[5] Gastrotheca cornuta is a nocturnal species and is found in tropical forests and lower montane cloud forests in Limón Province, Costa Rica, and in adjoining areas of Panama on the Atlantic slope at altitudes between 300 and 700 metres (980 and 2,300 ft).

In Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama it occurs on the Pacific side of the divide at altitudes between 90 and 1,000 metres (300 and 3,280 ft) above sea level.

The developing embryos have umbrella-like external gills that spread out against the pouch wall, which is highly vascular.

There is no free-living tadpole stage for this species and when their development is complete, tiny froglets make their way out of the brood pouch.

Numbers of individuals across its range have been decreasing and it is no longer present in Costa Rica and Panama on the Atlantic slope.