Atelopus cruciger is a species endemic to Venezuela, originally distributed in the central mountain system of the Cordillera de la Costa in the Capital District and the states of La Guaira, Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo, Yaracuy and Cojedes, from sea level to 2. 400 m altitude (Manzanilla and La Marca 2004a, Rodríguez-Contreras et al. 2008, Yerena and Rivero Blanco 2008). 

Most species of this genus have disappeared from the altitudinal belt between 1,000 and 2,400 m, with surviving populations above the extremes of the range. These areas have lethal temperatures for the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and are therefore considered "thermal refugia" for Atelopus (La Marca and Lötters 2008). The striped toad has brown or black lines and spots that stand out from the yellow coloration of its back. Each adult is unique, as its spots on the head and dorsal body vary. The belly is usually yellow, the palms and soles of the feet of the same color or orange, those who have these shades are mainly active breeding males. 

Males measure 2.2 to 3.5 centimeters, while females may reach 5 centimeters. It is diurnal, consumes beetles and ants. It is presumed that, as for other harlequin toad species, A. cruciger populations collapsed due to the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). To these threats must be added environmental alteration or degradation due to agriculture, human settlements, tourism, fires, pollution, and climate change, all of which are consequences of rapid human population growth and the development of the Coastal Range. It is now a priority to raise awareness among the public and, especially, among the human communities near the distribution of this toad in view of its possible extinction.