This species inhabits tropical premontane rainforest and tropical lower montane rainforest habitat zones (Holdridge 1967, Wake et al. 2007). Specimens are typically collected from large bromeliads, up to 3 m in trees, and within cloud forest. A single specimen has been collected from the forest edge of a recently cleared field (Wake et al. 2007). Specimens have also been collected from both epiphytic and ground bromeliads in oak forest, as well as under carpets of moss in sub-páramo (Boza-Oviedo et al. 2012). It is expected to reproduce by direct development, similar to other species in the genus.

This species was formerly known only from a small region along the Pacific slope on either side of the Costa Rica-Panama border (Wake et al. 2007). Its range has since been extended further northwest in Costa Rica, as specimens have been recorded from Cerro Pico Blanco, Cerro Amuo, and near Tres Colinas (Boza-Oviedo et al. 2012). It occurs at elevations between 1,170-2,150 m asl (Boza-Oviedo et al. 2012). Specimens in Panama have been collected from three separate sites in the vicinity of and to the east of the valley of the Río Candela (Wake et al. 2007). It is unknown whether it will occur more widely (M. Ponce pers. comm. August 2019). Its estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) is 943 km², which represents three to five threat-defined locations.

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species is present in the the forest fragment associated with the Las Cruces Biological Station (Catherine and Robert Wilson Botanical Garden). In Panama and Costa Rica, it occurs in Parque Internacional La Amistad (A. Batista and M. Ponce pers. comm. August 2019, Costa Rica Red List Assessment Workshop September 2019). It is considered Least Concern on Costa Rica's National Red List (Chaves et al. 2014).

Conservation Needed
Improved management and enforcement of the boundaries of Parque Internacional La Amistad in Panama is needed to prevent illegal activities from destroying this species' habitat (Panama Red List Assessment Workshop August 2019). Proactive, precautionary steps should be taken to detect the arrival of Bsal in Panama and/or Costa Rica and to establish a baseline by including the swabbing of salamanders encountered during routine amphibian monitoring activities in these countries (Panama and Costa Rica Red List Assessment Workshops 2019). 

Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats.