[3] It is endemic to Peru and known from near Abra Acjanacu (its type locality), a mountain pass in the Cordillera de Paucartambo, the easternmost Andean range towards the Amazonian lowlands, and from the high elevation grasslands of the Manu National Park.

[2] Psychrophrynella usurpator is a moderately robust-bodied frog with moderately long legs, without tympanic membrane but with a tympanic annulus that is visible through the skin, and rounded snout.

The call is a series of short, quickly repeated, moderately high notes[2] Psychrophrynella usurpator inhabit puna grasslands, also bordering agricultural land, and transitional areas to montane cloud forest, at elevations of 2,800–3,600 m (9,200–11,800 ft) above sea level.

[1] They can be found within bunch grasses, under mosses, and under rocks in humid puna.

Burning of grasslands and agricultural activities can cause habitat loss outside the park but are not believed to cause population declines.