It is endemic to Ecuador and only known from its type locality, Ecological Conservation Area Tinajillas-Río Gualaceño in the Morona-Santiago Province.

[1][3] The holotype was collected at night from the floor of montane forest at 2,770 m (9,090 ft) above sea level.

The forest is characterized by small streams and thick (>10 cm) layer of leaf litter.

[1][3] The type locality is a well-researched area, suggesting that this species is either rare or has habitat preferences that make it difficult to find.

Sánchez-Nivicela and colleagues suggest that this species is best described as "data deficient" following the IUCN Red List criteria,[1] and is classified as such in the Lista Roja Anfibios del Ecuador.