This species is an arboreal bush species of premontane and lowland rainforests. At Puerto Libre and Santa Cecilia, Ecuador, most of the specimens were found in secondary forest at night, although some were in primary forest (Duellman 1978). At Yasuní National Park, Ecuador, individuals have been collected in terra firme forest and seasonal flooded forest (Ron 2001). Individuals can be found in modified areas, such as shade grown coffee plantations and selectively logged forest. It is an ovoviviparous species.

This species can be found along the Amazonian slopes of San Martín region (Moyobamba) and Loreto region, northern Peru, as well as eastern lowlands of Ecuador. However, there is thought to be considerable cryptic diversity within this species (Elmer et al. 2013), and its nominal form is actually thought to be restricted to the region of Moyobamba in San Martín region, Peru, with all other records likely to represent undescribed species (R. von May pers. comm. April 2017). For the purposes of this assessment, until further taxonomic work has been carried out, all records are retained within the distribution map but those occurring in areas aside from Moyobamba are coded for 'Presence Uncertain'. It has an altitudinal range of 200-800 m asl. It may occur more widely between known localities, likely into the Amazonias region, however this area is not well surveyed as of yet (J. Brown pers. comm. April 2017).

Conservation Actions
This species occurs in Bosque de Protección Alto Mayo, as well as Santiago Comaina, Pacaya-Samiria and Allpahuayo Mishana Reserves in Peru. It may also occur in the Cordillera Azul and the Cordillera Escalera Regional Conservation Areas. In Ecuador, it occurs in Reserva de Producción Faunística Cuyabeno, Estación de Biodiversidad Tiputini, Parque Nacional Sangay, Parque Nacional Yasuní, and Reserva Biológica Limoncocha.

Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, natural history, and threats. Given that this form is likely a complex of several species, additional taxonomic studies are necessary.