The species is endemic to eastern Madagascar, with a type locality of Ambodimanga, Andapa.

It was first described in 1969 by Édouard-Raoul Brygoo and Charles Antoine Domergue, and it was ranked by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as "least concern".

B. thieli is thought to be found over an area of 43,865 km2 (16,936 sq mi) at 875–1,200 m (2,871–3,937 ft) above sea level.

The specific name, thieli, is in honor of French botanist Jean Thiel, who is an expert on tropical forests.

[3] It can be found from Ranomafana (southwards) to Anjanaharibe-Sud (northwards), and the species has previously been found in Ambohitantely, Angavo-Anjozorobe, Analamazaotra, Mantadia, Marojejy, and Vohidrazana at elevations between 875 and 1,200 m (2,871 and 3,937 ft) above mean sea level.