It is endemic to Ecuador where it is only known from its type locality on the Cordillera del Cóndor at 1,830 m (6,000 ft) asl.

[4] The species' natural habitats are cool montane cloud forests with plenty of bromeliad plants.

It subsequently went unobserved until a survey in 2009 turned up one adult and several tadpoles.

[1] Scientists observed the frog one protected park, Reserva Biológica Cerro Plateado, and near enough two other protected parks that they infer it may live there as well: Reserva Biológica El Quimi and Refugio de Vida Silvestre El Zarza.

The IUCN classifies this frog as endangered, citing habitat loss from deforestation associated with gold and copper mining.