Eleutherodactylus taeniatus was confused previously with two other species found at moderate to intermediate elevations. One of the new species is confined to the northern part of the Cordillera Occidental where it apparently replaces E. ptochus. The other species is found on the Antioquian altiplano of the Cordillera Central. Eleutherodactylus taeniatus occurs at elevations below 1500 m in the northern part of the Chocó biogeographico and in the Magdalena Medio. Presently, seven species of this complex are known in transandean Colombia.