It is endemic to the Cordillera Central in the Antioquia, Caldas, Quindío, and Tolima Departments, Colombia.

It differs from other Osornophryne by its truncated snout in lateral view, with a little non-projected papilla at the end, and by its light spots on the belly.

[4] Its natural habitats are Andean forests and páramos at elevations of 2,700–3,700 m (8,900–12,100 ft) asl.

It is a ground-dwelling species found among leaf-litter and rocks,[1] or in terrestrial and arboreal bromeliads.

It is an uncommon species threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, mainly from agriculture, and by pollution from the fumigation of illegal crops.