Adult: Species description based on Starrett (1966) and Savage (2002). A smallish treefrog (males to 34 mm, females to 42 mm). Dorsal: The dorsal coloration consists of mottled shades of green and brown. Some bright green flecks are also usually present on the dorsal surface. Side color is usually brown mottled or blotched with yellow. The upper arm is brown or orangeish. Dark bars are present on the upper surfaces of the limbs. Ventral: The ventral surface is a dingy white. Concealed surfaces: The rear surfaces of the thighs are brown, sometimes with a yellowish or orangeish hue. Eye: The eye is bronzy-red.
Breeding season: Males may be found calling from near streams year-round, but breeding mostly takes place during the dry season (Savage 2002). Eggs are presumed to be laid under rocks in streams; however, reproduction has not been observed in this species (Savage 2002). Egg: Gravid females contain large numbers of eggs (Starrett 1966, Lang 1995). Tadpole: The tadpole has a small, somewhat flattened body and a very long tail with low fins (Savage 2002). The body is brown above and greyish below, with some darker pigmentation primarily on the body and tail musculature (Savage 2002). Tadpoles have a large oral disc which they may use to adhere to rocks in fast-moving streams (Savage 2002).
Habitat: Premontane and lower montane forest from 1100 to 1650 m. Type locality: a stream, 4500 feet, on Volcán Turrialba, Cartago Province (Costa Rica)