It is endemic to Mexico and only known from the west slope of the Cofre de Perote Mountain, in Sierra Madre Oriental, central Veracruz.

[1] The specific name siopela is derived from the Greek siopelos, which means "silent" and refers to the lack of a voice in this species.

Males have prepollex (the "spikethumb") that is large and flat and bears small nuptial spines.

[2] The natural habitats of this species dry pine forest where it is found only in mountain streams in crevices and rocks.

[2] Sarcohyla siopela used to be abundant, but, as of 2010, had not been seen for more 10 years, in spite of surveys in suitable habitats in the area of the type locality.