Molecular phylogenetic studies confirmed the monophyly of the genus Adelophryne and revealed three main clades located in northern Amazonia, northern and southern Atlantic Forest (Fouquet et al. 2012). A. michelin is phylogenetically related to species from the northern clade of the North Atlantic Forest (Lourenço-de-Moraes et al. 2018). In Bahia, A. michelin occurs in sympatry and syntopy with A. mucronata and Adelophryne sp. 2 (species not yet described for the genus), species from which it is morphologically distinguished (Lourenço-de-Moraes et al. 2018).

Listed as Critically Endangered in view of its restricted distribution with an extent of occurrence of 20 km². Further surveys are not expected to increase this EOO beyond 137 km². There is ongoing decline in the quality and extent of its forest habitat, resulting in a single threat-defined location, and a decreasing area of occupancy (AOO).

This Brazilian endemic species is known from two sites: the type locality in the private Reserva Ecológica Michelin and in the adjacent Fazenda Juliana, both in the municipality of Igrapiúna, Bahia State. It occurs between 95–270 m asl (Lourenço-de-Moreais et al. 2018). The extent of occurrence (EOO) of the two sites is 20 km². The forests contiguous with and near to these two patches have been mapped for an estimate of the possibly extant distribution, which has an EOO of 137 km². Surveys in areas close to the Michelin Ecological Reserve did not record the species (Lourenço-de-Moraes et al. 2018) and surveys of forest fragments c. 50 km from the type locality recorded other Adelophryne species (described and undescribed), indicating that Adelophryne michelin is highly likely to have a restricted range (I. Dias pers. comm. Brazilian Red List Assessment Workshop 2021). This is further supported by the apparent trend of Adelophryne species in southern Bahia seeming to have naturally restricted distributions (M. Solé pers. comm. Brazilian Red List Assessment Workshop 2021). Because neither of the forest patches are considered to be secure and are subject to the same threats, the distribution represents a single threat-defined location.

The species is relatively abundant in the very small patch of forest in the reserve and presumably in the nearby fazenda. There are no data on dispersal, but its small size is expected to limit its ability to move between forest fragments, compromising its genetic variability. The population is inferred to be decreasing based on the ongoing decline in the quality and extent of its habitat.

This species occurs in Atlantic Forest biome. It can be found in the leaf litter of primary forest in good condition (Lourenço-de-Moreais et al. 2018). Surveys of secondary regrowth forest, shade-grown cacao plantations, and other habitat types in the area have not recorded the species, suggesting it is not tolerant of any modification (M. Solé pers. comm. Brazilian Red List Assessment Workshop 2021). One of the collected females had two large oocytes in her ovaries (Lourenço-de-Moraes et al. 2018). Similar to congeners, this species is presumed to breed by direct development, laying its eggs in bromeliads. The analysis of the stomach contents of five specimens revealed the presence of ants, a food item listed for other species of the same genus (Lourenço-de-Moraes et al. 2018).

Generally, the forests of the central coast of Bahia have been relatively stable over the last 20 years relative to other coastal areas of eastern Brazil. However, within the central coastal region of Bahia, the forests in which this species has been found seem to have been subject to a higher amount of deforestation; Global Forest Watch data from 2001–2020 show a 5% loss of forest. When compared with the 1% of loss within the distribution of Adelophryne mucronata and 0.006% for A. pachydactyla, it does seem that the relative threat level is higher for this species. According to the website of the Reserva Ecológica Michelin (Accessed November 2021), in the area surrounding the reserve, there are over 4,000 forest fragments in an area of approximately 400 km². The majority of the fragments are smaller than 0.3 km², "while the few fragments above 500 hectares [5 km²] make up the majority of the forest cover." 

The species has been found within the Reserva Ecológica Michelin (type locality) and in a patch of forest adjacent to the reserve on the property of the Fazenda (farm) Juliana. North of the reserve across the Rio Cachoeira Grande, the landscape is comprised of "mixed agroforestry systems", to the east and south there are extensive rubber, cocoa, and banana plantations, and to the west there are around 13 km² of forest (Michelin. Sobre a Reserva. Accessed 2021). The type locality is contained within one of the small patches of forest in the reserve (c. 6 km²), there are approximately two other similar patches, while the remainder of the reserve is a matrix of experimental rubber plantations, cacao plantations (shade-grown), native tree plantings, selectively logged forest, and open areas for crop cultivation and livestock  (M. Solé and I. Dias pers. comm. Brazilian Red List Assessment Workshop 2021). The same land uses occur outside the reserve. While the forest patch on the fazenda is currently intact, this is not guaranteed in the future as it belongs to a large family of entrepreneurs in Brazil, can be sold at any time, and the land is not managed for conservation.

There are no records of the species being utilized.

Conservation Actions In-Place
The Reserva Ecológica Michelin is not nationally-registered as a protected area and is under private ownership. There are only about three small patches of intact forest within the 31 km² of the reserve. The purpose of the reserve is to protect the region's biodiversity through maintaining the intact forest within its boundaries, and recovering forest through native tree plantings, and studying the potential of mixed use forest (i.e. native trees, rubber plantations, and deforested areas for agriculture). Although the forest at the type locality is currently intact and protected, the management plan of the reserve is subject to change.

Conservation Needed
The forest in the reserve (type locality), fazenda, and the contiguous area of forest to the west urgently requires formal protection to prevent any further deforestation and degradation of the species' habitat. The species is included in the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Threatened Herpetofauna (Machado et al. 2021).

Research Needed
Additional surveys are needed to establish the limits of the species' distribution and estimate an area of occupancy (AOO) value. The habitat at the two known sites requires monitoring, along with the population status to better understand the effects of fragmentation. In light of the precarious situation of this species, an action plan is required to identify the specific steps needed to prevent the species' extinction.