Taxonomic notes: Further taxonomic work is needed to finally determine whether Duellmanohyla lythrodes is a synonym of Duellmanohyla rufioculis (Federico Bolaños pers. comm. 2007).

This species is known from the humid lowlands of the Atlantic versant in southern Costa Rica and adjacent north-western Panama, from 170-440 m asl (Savage 2002). Its range, taken as a proxy for extent of occurrence (EOO), is estimated at 1,336 km². 

The few known specimens have been collected on low vegetation (approximately 3 m above ground) within humid lowland forest. The species may be associated with headwater streams (Savage 2002). Larval development is presumed to take place in these streams.

It is a rare species known only from three specimens.

There is no information on use and trade for this species.

The major threat to the species is general habitat loss due to deforestation for smallholder farming activities, logging, and human settlement. Chytridiomycosis is also a potential threat to this species.

• 8.1.2 Named species
• 5.3.5 Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded
• 2.1.2 Small-holder farming
• 1.1 Housing & urban areas

It has not been recorded from any protected areas in the lowlands, but has been recorded from private reserves in Monteverde. The lowland forest habitat of this species is in urgent need of protection. Further research is needed to determine the current population status of this species, and whether it is at risk of infection with chytrid.

• 1.2 Resource & habitat protection
• 1.1 Site/area protection

Listed as Endangered because its extent of occurrence is estimated at 1,336 km², it is currently known from few locations (≤ 5), and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat. 

• Campbell, J.A. and Smith, E.N. 1992. A new frog of the genus Ptychohyla (Hylidae) from the Sierra de Santa Cruz, Guatemala, and description of a new genus of Middle American stream-breeding treefrogs. Herpetologica: 153-167.
• Duellman, W.E. 1970. The Hylid Frogs of Middle America. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Duellman, W.E. 2001. The Hylid Frogs of Middle America. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Ithaca, New York, USA.
• 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.
• Savage, J.M. 1968. A new red-eyed tree-frog (family Hylidae) from Costa Rica, with a review of the Hyla uranochroa group. Bulletin Southern California Academy of Sciences 67: 1-20.
• Savage, J.M. 2002. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica: A Herpetofauna between two Continents, between two Seas. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
• 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.