It is found along the eastern flank of the Andes of Ecuador and Colombia (Cordillera Oriental) north to Caquetá Department.

[4][3] Strabomantis cornutus occurs in cloud forests at elevations of 1,150–1,800 m (3,770–5,910 ft) above sea level.

It is largely a nocturnal and terrestrial species recorded on the forest floor and stream banks.

[1][3] It is a rare species threatened by habitat loss caused by agriculture, human settlement, and logging.

It is known from the Podocarpus National Park (Ecuador) and its range overlaps with a few other protected areas.