In the original description the type locality was given as Sungai Liwagu,  310 m a.s.l., Lipaso Forest Reserve, Labuk and Sugut District, Sabah (= Telupid District of Sandakan Division, Sabah?).

Leptobrachella palmata is small species, males 14-17 mm in snout-vent length. It is distinguished from all other known Leptobrachella (subgenus Leptobrachella) in having toes more than half webbed, and from most species of the subgenus inhaving no visible dark dorsal markings (in preservative) and in having the throat and most of the belly devoid of melanophores. 

The body is moderately slender and the snout obtusely pointed in plan view, rounded in profile, not projecting. The canthus rostralis is distinct (from eye to nostril) but rounded; lores (below canthus) weakly concave, nearly vertical. The diameter of the eye is slightly shorter than distance to tip of snout. The interorbital distance is wider than upper eyelid. The tympanum is distinct, less than half eye diameter. As in other members of the subgenus, the tips of fingers and toes are somewhat expanded into small triangular, pointed disks. The skin is smooth dorsally and ventrally; sides with rounded glands, scattered or aligned. A distinct, curved supratympanic fold is present. The ventral skin is smooth.

Remarkably, the original description by Inger and Stuebing (1992) does not include photos or even drawings of this species. The species remains a bit mysterious. Its English common name (see here) is probably a misunderstanding of "palmata".