It is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills, a part of the Western Ghats, in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, southern India.

[2] It has a rather complicated taxonomic history, and there is still an open issue whether Ixalus montanus Günther, 1876 from Kudremukh (Karnataka), now in synonymy with Raorchestes tinniens, is indeed a valid species.

[1][3] It is a common species within its distribution area, but it is threatened by habitat loss and believed to be declining.

[3] The IUCN classifies this frog as endangered because of its small range, which is subject to considerable habitat loss.

Because the frog lives at high elevations, it cannot readily migrate to cooler habitats.

[1] Scientists have noted some frogs with deformed bodies and cite ultraviolet radiation as a possible cause.