Type locality, Río Teuchitlán, Río Ameca drainage, at the eastern edge of Teuchitlán, Jalisco (Ref. 36807). Apparently existing only in one locality, a small pool which is under continued threat by introduced species and habitat degradation. With its very small range of occurrence and area occupancy, the total population is thought to be less than 50 mature individuals and thus assessed in March 1, 2007 as Critically Endangered. Since 1992, collection efforts were unsuccessful that it was thought this species may be extinct in the wild, however, an extremely small population was found in 2000-2001 in a very small pond where it was reported to be composed of less than 500 individuals of all ages with less than 50 individuals are adults. It was rediscovered in a very small lake in 2003. This species is reported to being maintained in captivity by aquarists in North America and Europe and it has been recommended that breeding programmes are implemented so that it can be reintroduced into the original, larger pools it previously inhabited (Ref. 117910).

Status of threat: endangered. Criteria: 1,4,5 (http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/afs/) (Ref. 81264).