Taxonomic notes: A member of the Eleutherodactylus lacrimosus assemblage of the Eleutherodactylus (Eleutherodactylus) unistrigatus group following the original publication (Lehr et al. 2006). In the genus Pristimantis following Heinicke et al. (2007).

This species is known only from the type locality, in the vicinity of the village of Huasahuasi at 2,640 m asl, in the district of Huasahuasi, province of Tarma, region of Junín, Peru (Lehr et al. 2006). Due to its poor dispersal ability and presence in a fragmented habitat, it is considered unlikely that this species may occur much more widely (E. Lehr pers. comm. April 2013). Its range, taken as a proxy for extent of occurrence (EOO), is therefore not considered to exceed 100 km².

It can be found in the Puna Ecoregion. Individuals have been found during the early afternoon in terrestrial bromeliads surrounded by the Peruvian Feather Grass (Stipa ichu) on a hillside (Lehr et al. 2006). It is restricted to habitat patches where terrestrial bromeliads grow, which are uncommon (E. Lehr pers. comm. April 2013). It is presumed to breed by direct development.

A total of 16 individuals were found over the course of three person/days in 2003 (von May et al. 2008). The area has not been surveyed since the species was discovered in 2003 (E. Edgar pers. comm. August 2013).

There are no reports of this species being utilized.

The puna areas where this species occurs have been modified by human settlement. Extensive grazing (with the adjunct of fire) is widespread and threatens pastures, shrublands and woodlands. The fallow lands are used for grazing by cattle, sheep, llama and alpaca (Michelson 2008).  This type of farming activity is ongoing in the region where this species occurs (E. Lehr pers. comm. April 2013).

No conservation actions are currently known for this species. Conservation of the type locality is required. Further research is needed into this species' distribution, population status and ecology.

Listed as Critically Endangered given an extent of occurrence which, while uncalculated, is considered to be much less than 100 km², given that it is known to occur at a single site and threat-defined location, and there is continuing habitat decline in the highlands of the central Peruvian Andes.

• Heinicke, M.P., Duellman, W.E., and Hedges, S.B. 2007. Major Caribbean and Central American frog faunas originated by ancient oceanic dispersal. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 104: 10092-10097.
• Lehr, E., Lundberg, M., Aguilar, C., and von May, R. 2006. New species of Eleutherodactylus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from the Eastern Andes of central Peru with comments on central Peruvian Eleutherodactylus. Herpetological Monographs 20: 105-128.
• Michelson, A. 2008. Temperate grasslands of South America. The World Temperate Grasslands Conservation Initiative Workshop Hohhot, China - 28 & 29 June, 2008.
• von May, R., Catenazzi, A., Angulo, A., Brown, J.L., Carrillo, J., Chávez, G., Córdova, J.H., Curo, A., Delgado, A., Enciso, M.A., Guttiérez, R., Lehr, E., Martínez, J.L., Martina-Müller, M., Miranda, A., Neira, D.R., Ochoa, J.A., Quiroz, A.J., Rodríguez, D.A., Rodríguez, L.O., Salas, A.W., Seimon, T., Seimon, A., Siu-Ting, K., Suárez, J., Torres, C. and Twomey, E. 2008. Current state of conservation knowledge on threatened amphibian species in Peru. Tropical Conservation Science 1(4): 376-396.