Proceratophrys boiei is a moderate-sized, robust frog, growing to a length of between 40 and 70 mm (1.6 and 2.8 in), with males tending to be slightly smaller than females.

The colouring is an irregular geometric pattern of brown, black, yellow, orange and red, such that the frog becomes nearly invisible against the background of leaf litter among which it lives.

[4] When disturbed, Proceratophrys boiei makes a leap and then flattens itself on the leaf litter with its limbs stiff and splayed; with its skin protuberances and cryptic colouring it then closely resembles dead leaves and is likely to be overlooked by predators that hunt by sight.

[5] This stiff-legged defensive posture has now been recorded in at least seven frog species in four different families; one of these is Scythrophrys sawayae, which is also found in the forests of southeastern Brazil.

The threats it faces are likely to be as a result of such human activities as forest clearance for agriculture, plantation crops and grazing, and it is also collected for the pet trade.