This species inhabits tropical deciduous and semi-deciduous forest, tropical wet forest, cloud forest, pine-oak forest, coastal grasslands, and possibly also occurs in mangroves. It is found in moist shaded vegetation, palm groves, thickets, ditches, resacas, lawns and gardens. It hides in sheltered moist spots when inactive and it sometimes burrows. It is a terrestrial breeder and breeds by direct development. It lays eggs in moist, sheltered spots on land. This species is capable of living in highly modified environments, including coffee and banana plantations and urban areas.

This species ranges from southern Tamaulipas through northern and central Veracruz and into the foothills of eastern San Luis Potosi, northeastern Querétaro, eastern Hidalgo and northern Puebla (C. Grünwald pers. comm. October 2019) in Mexico. All records from extreme southern Texas, Louisiana and Alabama in the USA, to northern and central Tamaulipas and eastern Nuevo Leon in Mexico now belong to E. campi (Grünwald et al. 2018, C. Grünwald pers. comm. October 2019). Its elevational range is between 100-1,800 m asl.

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species' range includes the Sierra del Abra-Tamchipa Biosphere Reserve and El Cielo Biosphere Reserve, as well as several municipal level and state level protected areas in and around Xalapa, Veracruz.

Research Needed
Further research on this species' distribution, population size and trends is recommended. Additional taxonomic research is also recommended.