It is endemic to Mexico and occurs mostly along the western and southern margins of the Mexican Plateau, with isolated populations elsewhere.

It tolerates habitat modification and is also found in degraded forests, coffee plantations, rural gardens, and close to urbanized and highly disturbed areas.

This terrestrial species is typically found beneath logs, rocks, waste timber, brush piles, and within leaf litter.

The reasons for this decline are unclear, although habitat loss is occurring throughout its range.

Isthmura sierraoccidentalis was promoted from subspecies to species, creating this complication.