This species lives in cloud forest and pine-oak broadleaf forests, but is somewhat adaptable and has been found under rocks in gardens and in shaded coffee plantations. Similar to other species in the genus, it will not tolerant the complete opening up of its habitat as they require a certain level of humidity (P.A. Caballero pers. comm. July 2016). During dry periods it hides in arboreal bromeliads up to 5 m above the ground. It breeds by direct development and is not dependent upon water.

This species is known from the mountains of the Atlantic slopes of eastern Chiapas (Mexico) and northern Guatemala. In Guatemala, it occurs in the Sierra de Los Cuchumatanes, Alta Verapaz highlands. The subpopulation in Sierra de Santa Cruz, Guatemala has been reassigned to a related species of similar appearance, Bolitoglossa odonnelli (S. Rovito pers. comm. Red List Assessment Workshop 2014). It is now also known from Quiché, Guatemala (S. Rovito pers. comm. August 2019). Its elevational range is 140-1,500 m asl. It probably occurs more widely in this range than current records suggest. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 9,298 km², which represents ten or fewer threat-defined locations.

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species occurs in Yal Unin Yul Witz Reserve and Parque Nacional Laguna Lachuá.

Conservation Needed
There is a need for improved protection of pine-oak forest habitats in the range of this species. Proactive, precautionary steps should be taken to detect the arrival of Bsal in Mesoamerica 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
Research is needed to determine its distribution, population size and trends.