This species is known from the eastern slopes of the Bolivian Andes, in Cochabamba and Santa Cruz Departments. It has also been recorded in Chapare Province, Cochabamba Department and Caballero Province, Santa Cruz Department in Bolivia (Köhler 2000a; Cortez 2001). It has been recorded from 1,900-2,300m asl.
Habitat and Ecology
A terrestrial species inhabiting wet montane forest including cloud and Yungas forest. The eggs are laid in lotic waters (Köhler 2000a).
The population status of this species is not known.
Major threats to this species' habitat include agriculture (mainly from smallholder farmers) and agricultural pollution. Köhler (2000a) points out that it is very common to find this species infected by parasites, with visible red pustules that, according to De la Riva (1997), are caused by the larvae of a trombidioid mite. However, it is not known whether or not the infestations have a negative effect on the species.
Its range includes Parque Nacional Carrasco and Parque Nacional Amboro.
Harvey and Smith (1993) pointed out that Rhinella echinodes, described by Reynolds and Foster (1992), is a synonym of R. quechua. This species is possibly a complex of more than one species.
Claudia Cortez, Steffen Reichle, Ignacio De la Riva, Jörn Köhler 2004. Rhinella quechua. In: IUCN 2014