It is endemic to Borneo and known from isolated locations in south-central Sarawak and eastern Sabah (East Malaysia) and central Kalimantan (Indonesia).

[4] The specific name rufipes refers to the red webbing of this frog.

A thin, white line runs from the tip of the snout along the canthus to the edge of the eyelid.

[4] Leptomantis rufipes occurs in primary lowland rainforests below 250 m (820 ft) above sea level.

[2][4] The species can be locally abundant, but it is threatened by habitat loss caused by logging.