It is endemic to Brazil and only known from its type locality near Morro do Chapéu, Bahia,[2] in the northern part of the Espinhaço Mountains.

The specific name galeata is derived from Latin and means "covered with a helmet", in reference to the co-ossified head of this frog.

[1] The type series was found inside a terrestrial tank bromeliad Hohenbergia vertita.

The locality is at 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level and is characterized by generally shallow and sandy soils and with outcrops almost everywhere.

The plant cover represented a mosaic of caatinga, cerrado, and campos rupestres vegetation.