This is a high-elevation cloud forest species, associated with rocky mountain streams where it breeds. It also occurs in pine-oak forests. In Honduras, it occurs in both Mixed Cloud forest and Montane Mixed forest (Townsend 2014). It will tolerate a small degree of habitat disturbance, such as secondary forest or forest edge (Guatemala Red List Assessment Workshop August 2019).

This species was previously only reported to occur in the highlands of southeastern Oaxaca and western Chiapas, Mexico between 1,000-2,134 m asl, and along the Guatemalan highlands at 900 m asl. The previous assessment in 2004 overlooked that this species also occurred in Celaque, Honduras close to the northwestern border with Guatemala at elevations up to 2,700 m asl. It is not expected to occur more widely in Honduras or Guatemala, as there is no additional suitable habitat available (J. Townsend pers. comm. March 2019, C. Vásquez Almazán pers. comm. August 2019). It could be present in the intervening highlands between some of the known localities in Mexico (e.g. along the Sierra Madre de Chiapas) (R. Percino and R. Luna pers. comm. Red List Assessment Workshop 2014).

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species occurs in the Reserva de la Biósfera La Sepultura and Reserva de la Biósfera El Triunfo, the Zona Sujeta a Conservación Ecológica Pico del Oro-Paxtal in Chiapas, Mexico, and also in Biotopo del Quetzal, Reserva Privada Barillas, Reserva de la Biósfera Sierra de las Minas, and Refugio de Quetzal in San Marcos, in Guatemala; it also occurs in communal protected areas in the Chimalapas region, which also provide some level of protection. This species is protected by Mexican law under the "Special Protection" category (Pr). It occurs in Celaque National Park within Cacique Lempira Señor de las Montaños Biosphere Reserve, in Honduras, which is fairly well protected apart from some activities by local communities (J. Townsend and L. Herrera pers. comm. March 2019). Mapance NGO are actively working with local communites in Celaque National Park to prevent further encroachment (J. Townsend and L. Herrera pers. comm. March 2019).

Conservation Needed
Improved management and enforcement across the species range. Ongoing efforts should be maintained by Mapance NGO to prevent further habitat encroachment within this species range in Honduras. 

Research Needed
The development and implementation of a species management plan is recommended like an ex-situ recovery plan. Research is also needed on its natural history, population size and distribution. Furthermore, a monitoring program to follow population trends is desired, particularly in light of the risks associated with chytridiomycosis. Taxonomic research to clarify the status of the species is needed (C. Vásquez Almazán pers. comm. August 2019).