[2][4] The specific name olfersii honors Ignaz von Olfers, German naturalist, historian, and diplomat.

The fingers and the toes are thin and long and have slightly expanded tips; no webbing is present.

A black stripe runs from the postorbital region to the anterior margin of the inguinal gland.

A weak white line runs on the canthus rostralis, becoming well marked on the border of the upper eyelid and on the dorsolateral fold.

[3] Physalaemus olfersii occurs in primary and secondary forest at elevations below 1,200 m (3,900 ft).