Pristimantis vertebralis is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae.

[2] It is endemic to the Andes of Ecuador and occurs in the Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Bolívar, and Azuay provinces.

[5] The snout is subacuminate in dorsal view and rounded in profile.

The venter is creamy yellow (sometimes with orange tint), with brown or black marbling.

[1][3] It is threatened by habitat degradation caused by smallholder agricultural activities and subsistence wood collection.