This species is found at the lower elevations of cloud forest and in lowland tropical forest in the Sierra de Juárez. It is found both in arboreal bromeliads and in banana plants (S. Rovito pers. comm. 2014, 2019). Reproduction takes place by direct development.

This species is known from the Sierra de Juárez, between the small settlement of Vista Hermosa and the type locality to the north, along Hwy. 175, as well as from the Sierra Mixe, near the town of Santiago Zacatepec in Oaxaca, Mexico. The two known localities are approximately 70 km (by air) apart. The species presumably occurs on the Atlantic slopes of the Sierra de Juárez and the Sierra Mixe between known subpopulations, and perhaps more widely in the Sierra Mixe. It occurs in forested areas at elevations between 650–1,500 m asl (Rovito et al. 2012). Its extent of occurrence is 1,900 km².

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species has not been recorded in any protected areas.

Conservation Needed
Forest in Mexico generally requires increased protection and improved enforcement of existing protection, which is important for the survival of this species. Proactive, precautionary steps should be taken to detect the arrival of Bsal in Mexico through the swabbing of both wild and imported salamanders, in addition to a total ban on the importation of non-native salamanders (Mexico Red List Assessment Workshop October 2019).

Research Needed
Further research is required on its population size and trends, and to determine whether the species has a wider distribution range.