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This species occurs in extreme central-eastern Sonora and western Chihuahua along the Sierra Madre Occidental, south to western Durango and extreme north-eastern Sinaloa, Mexico.

This species is relatively common in some parts of its range. (person. comm. Jesús Rodríguez Canseco)

It inhabits pristine conifer forests where it can be commonly found along low rivers and streams, where it breeds. It is not present in altered habitats.

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Disturbance, and any kind of alteration of forested areas that might cause the desiccation of streams and soils, are threats to this species.

• 6.1 Recreational activities
• 2.3.1 Nomadic grazing
• 5.3.5 Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded
• 1.3 Tourism & recreation areas
• 1.1 Housing & urban areas

This species occurs in at least two protected areas. Urgent protection of the forested areas along the Sierra Tarahumara area is recommended.
Based upon species´ distribution model, suitable habitat for this species has 87% of remnant distributional range of natural vegetation cover in Mexico (equivalent to 12,614,703 ha), but is just represented in 7,7% in protected areas (6,4% governmental PA; 1,2% social private efforts) (Ochoa-Ochoa, et al. 2009).

• 2.1 Site/area management
• 1.1 Site/area protection
• 2.3 Habitat & natural process restoration

Listed as Near Threatened since the species depends on streams in pristine forest, and so its Area of Occupancy is probably not much greater than 2,000 km2, and the extent and quality of its habitat in the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico is declining, thus making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable.

• Gergus, E.W.A. 1998. Systematics of the Bufo microscaphus complex: allozyme evidence. Herpetologica: 317-325.
• Price, A.H. and Sullivan, B.K. 1988. Bufo microscaphus. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles: 1-3.