This species lives in tropical forests and lower elevation cloud forests, and can survive in modified habitats such as cities, urban parks, farmland, banana plantations and areas of coffee cultivation. It can be found under logs and rocks, and other natural and artificial objects that give cover (Berriozabal-Islas 2012), and it has also been observed in bromeliads (Vogt et al. 1997). Breeding takes place by direct development.

This species ranges widely in the Atlantic versant from southern Tamaulipas southward through Hidalgo to southern Veracruz, Puebla, Oaxaca, Mexico (Canseco-Márquez et al. 2000, Farr et al. 2007, Hernández-Salinas et al. 2008, Lemos-Espinal et al. 2013, S. Rovito pers. comm. 2019). It is now known to also occur in the municipality of Altamira in Tamaulipas, Mexico (Farr et al. 2016). Its elevational range is 28–1,500 m asl (J. Hanken and H.B. Shaffer pers. obs. 1978, Farr et al. 2016, S. Rovito pers. comm. October 2019). Records from Chiapas most likely are Bolitoglossa alberchi and have been removed from the map (S. Rovito pers. comm. October 2019).

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species occurs in several protected areas including Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, El Cielo Biosphere Reserve and it may occur in some state, municipal or community protected areas across its range. It is also protected by Mexican law under the "Special Protection" category (Pr). 

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 into its population size and trends, and monitoring of the population status is needed.