It is endemic to northeastern Brazil and occurs from northern Minas Gerais and Bahia to Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, and Rio Grande do Norte.

[1][2] The specific name, troglodytes, refers to its habit of breeding in underground chambers.

[4] This species builds foam nests in underground chambers near water.

[3] Leptodactylus troglodytes is a common species that occurs in dry and moist savanna and agricultural land in the Cerrado and Caatinga ecosystems and in dune systems in Atlantic Rainforest zone.

It is impacted by intensive agriculture, overgrazing by livestock, and fire, but is not considered threatened as species.