It is endemic to Colombia and only known from the vicinity of its type locality in Urrao, Antioquia Department, on the western flank of the Cordillera Occidental (Colombian Andes).

[1][3][4] The specific name polemistes is Greek for "warrior" and refers to the insurgents that operated in the area of the type locality.

The snout is relatively short, subacuminate in dorsal view and rounded in lateral profile.

[2] Pristimantis polemistes is known from patches of primary forest near streams at elevations of 2,300–2,320 m (7,550–7,610 ft) above sea level.

At the time of the latest IUCN assessment (2018), no other specimens than the type series (collected in 1988[2]) were known.