Taxonomic notes: This species was previously included in the genus Hyla but has recently been moved to the new genus Isthmohyla (Faivovich et al. 2005).

This species is endemic to the western Cordillera Central of Panama at elevations of 1,120-1,650 m asl on both sides of the continental divide in the western part of the Serranía de Tabasará and on the Pacific slopes of the eastern part of the Cordillera de Talamanca. It has not been recorded from Costa Rica, but may be present in this country. Its range, taken as a proxy for extent of occurrence (EOO), is estimated at 1,875 km².

It is an arboreal species that inhabits humid montane forest, small ponds, puddles, and low-gradient streams. Breeding occurs in these aquatic habitats.

The population of this species has declined drastically (Lips 1999) and has disappeared from all previously known sites. However, in 2010, five individuals were collected in western Panama and several calling males were detected at what is the only known extant population (Hertz et al. 2012). 

There are no reports of this species being utilized.

Infection by the chytrid pathogen was recorded by Lips (1999) at the Reserva Forestal Fortuna, in Chiriquí, and this is probably the most serious threat to the species. It is also threatened by deforestation resulting from cattle ranching, small-holder agriculture, and road construction (A. Hertz pers. comm. 2013).

• 8.1.2 Named species
• 2.3.3 Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming
• 2.3.2 Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming
• 2.1.2 Small-holder farming
• 4.1 Roads & railroads

In the past, the species has been recorded in a number of protected areas, including Parque Nacional Santa Fe, Parque Internacional La Amistad, and the Reserva Forestal Fortuna. However, there have been no recent records in these protected areas (Hertz et al. 2012). The only known extant population occurs in Cerro Colorado, which is not within a protected area. This species is an urgent priority for survey work. In view of the threat of chytridiomycosis, surviving individuals might need to form the basis for the establishment of an ex-situ population.

• 3.4.1 Captive breeding/artificial propagation
• 1.2 Resource & habitat protection

Listed as Critically Endangered because fewer than 50 individuals have been recorded in recent years. In 2010, five individuals were collected in western Panama and several calling males were detected at what is the only known extant population (Hertz et al. 2012).

• Duellman, W.E. 2001. The Hylid Frogs of Middle America. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Ithaca, New York, USA.
• Faivovich, J., Haddad, C.F.B., Garcia, P.C.O., Frost, D.R., Campbell, J.A. and Wheeler, W.C. 2005. Systematic review of the frog family Hylidae, with special reference to Hylinae: Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 294: 1-240.
• Hertz, A., Lotzkat, S. Carrizo, A., Ponce, M., Köhler, G. and Streit, B.. 2012. Field notes on findings of threatened amphibian species in the central mountain range of western Panama. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 6(2): 9-30.
• Ibáñez, R., Solís, F., Jaramillo, C. and Rand, S. 2000. An overwiew of the herpetology of Panama. In: J.D. Johnson, R.G. Webb and O.A. Flores-Villela (eds), Mesoamerican Herpetology: Systematics, Zoogeography and Conservation, pp. 159-170. The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas.
• Lips, K.R. 1999. Mass mortality and population declines of anurans at an upland site in western Panama. Conservation Biology: 117-125.
• Myers, C.W. and Duellman, W.E. 1982. A new species of Hyla from Cerro Colorado, and other tree frog records and geographical notes from western Panama. American Museum Novitates 2752: 1-32.
• Young, B., Sedaghatkish, G., Roca, E. and Fuenmayor, Q. 1999. El Estatus de la Conservación de la Herpetofauna de Panamá: Resumen del Primer Taller Internacional sobre la Herpetofauna de Panamá. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia.