It is endemic to eastern Brazil and occurs in southeastern Bahia, Espírito Santo, northeastern Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro states.

[3] The specific name schirchi honours Paulo F. Schirch, a Brazilian zoologist who collected the type series.

[4] Common names Santo smooth horned frog and Brazilian smooth horned frog can refer to this species, the latter specifically referring to Proceratophrys precrenulata that is now considered a junior synonym only.

In 1997, Caramaschi and Ulisses argued that the distinguishing character between P. schirchi and P. precrenulata—the apparent absence of tubercles on the upper eyelids in the former—was not real but attributable to the poor preservation of the types.

It is a common species, but habitat loss caused by agriculture, wood plantations, livestock grazing, human settlement, fire, and logging is a threat.