The golden coqui can be distinguished from other Eleutherodactylus in Puerto Rico by its golden ground color without dorsal patterning and its translucent venter without dark pigmentation. Dorsally, the color is a uniform olive-gold to yellow-gold. If the frog is disturbed, the color may pale. Ventrally, the coloration is pale yellow, except for transparent abdominal skin. Few to no melanophores appear to be present on the ventral surfaces of the head and abdomen. The iris is pale gray with black speckles.

During the mating season, males give off a call that sounds like tuit-tuit-tuit-tuit. A single call sequence lasts between 10 seconds and two minutes. The golden coqui is more difficult to distinguish in a multi-species chorus, as it makes somewhat softer calls than other frog species in the same habitat.

The golden coqui is a relatively small frog, with adult males and females the same size. The golden coqui has a bluntly rounded snout that is almost truncate when viewed from above, and an indistinct canthus rostralis, which is the more or less angular ridge from the anterior border of the eye to the nostril. The digits, or fingers, have only vestigial webbing and are moderately long, with rounded terminal discs. The dorsum is shagreened with small bumps, as well as well-developed subdermal glands on the flanks and the posterior surfaces of the thighs. The venter is areolate in texture. The eyes are small, protruding slightly from the sockets.

Measurements
Length: 0.75 to 0.85 in (19 to 22 mm) snout-vent

The golden coqui is the only confirmed live-bearing species in the genus Eleutherodactylus and family Eleutherodactylidae. Due to the two classes of eggs within the ovaries that were visible during dissection, it is thought that females may reproduce more than once a year. It is unknown whether reproduction in this species is seasonal or occurs throughout the year.

The golden coqui occurs on mountain tops, from 700 to 850 meters in elevation, at Cerro Avispa, Monte el Gato and Sierra de Cayey. The areas mentioned above receive heavy dew from orographic uplift of air striking the mountain range. When described, the species was reported to occupy a total habitat area of approximately 24 hectares and inhabited the water-filled leaf axils of dense clusters of bromeliads, like Vriesia, Hohenbergia and Guzmania, that grow on trees, rock edges and on the ground.

It was observed that the golden coqui captured insects that entered the axils of the leaves in daylight. They ventured out on the same leaves at night but will retreat quickly when disturbed.

This is a nocturnal species that is found only in clusters of bromeliads of the genera Guzmania, Hohenbergia and Vriesia, rather than isolated plants. This implies that this species preferred to disperse over short distances. Inhabited bromeliad clusters were found on the ground, as well as in trees, on large boulders and cliff sides.