It has a brown or copper dorsal surface with irregular, darker blotches along the middle of its back.

A dark line runs from the snout, through the eye, and over the tympanum to the top of the shoulder.

The toes are fully webbed, the fingers are unwebbed, and the tympanum is visible.

The Northern barred frog inhabits dense tropical rainforest, close to fast-flowing streams.

The male will call high from the bank, with a deep "wahk" noise.