This species is listed as Least Concern on the basis that, although it has a small extent of occurrence and is is potentially highly localised, no immediate threats have been identified and it occurs in an area with little land transformation and so may not occur in a small number of locations. Nonetheless it remains very poorly known and further research is needed to confirm that it does not warrant listing in a more threatened category either at present or in future.

This species is known only from arid northwest South Africa, where it has been recorded along the lower edge of the western escarpment (Davis et al. 2020) within the Namaqualand Klipkoppe Shrubland vegetation unit of Mucina and Rutherford (2006). If it is restricted to this area (covering 10,900 km², rather than 9,900 km² as estimated by Davis et al. 2020), its distribution across three known localities is potentially localised, as much of this region lies at higher elevations where Macroderes mutilans occurs (above 500 m) (Davis et al. 2020). One locality is some way to the north of the other two, but the species is potentially continuously distributed in the intervening region as this all lies within the same vegetation unit (A. Davis and C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023). M. amplior is known from between 308 and 476 m asl (Davis et al. 2020).

There is no information on the population status of this species. Only one specimen was collected from the northern locality 7 km north of Kommaggas (September 1981). In the south it has been found at least three times, at 3 year intervals at one site between 2004 and 2015, all in August and in traps each out for a single day (C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023). As the known localities lie within an area where habitat transformation is low this may reflect specialised habits and a low encounter rate rather than true rarity (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023).

Mean annual rainfall across the three known localities ranges from 103-154 mm and annual mean temperature from 17-18.2 °C (Davis et al. 2020). These localities lie within the Succulent Karoo biome, within the winter rainfall region, but the only ecological data available is of a specimen collected from "sandy loam in mountain Karoo shrubland" (Davis et al. 2020). It has been sampled from traps baited with pig dung (C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023). It is flightless and activity has been recorded in spring (August and September) (Davis et al. 2020). These authors suggest that this activity pattern may reflect a reliance on warmer, lower elevations. This is consistent with their observation that a related species, Macroderes mutilans, is found above 500 m asl. in the same area. It has been proposed that Macroderes species may be particularly associated with earth mounds known as heuweltjies: water-retaining, nutrient-rich structures that attract rodents whose dung may be a key resource for these beetles (Abdalla et al. 2018). The traps set by C. Deschodt were set within heuweltjies, and this species "definitely" favours these areas (C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023).

The known localities lie within a region of steep rocky habitats where little habitat transformation has taken place (Davis et al. 2020). Dung beetles adapted to the cool, arid winter rainfall region of southwest South Africa and Namibia may be at elevated risk from the predicted impacts of climate change, which may result in temperature-driven changes to seasonal rainfall patterns and increase annual precipitation (Davis and Scholtz 2020). This may facilitate the expansion of warm-adapted species from the northeast into presently unsuitable areas (Davis and Scholtz 2020).

There is presumably no use of or trade in this species.

This species is not known from any protected areas, and statutory protection across the area in which it occurs is very low (encompassing 6% of this arid, rocky area) (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023). It is ecologically poorly known, and surveys are needed to clarify its distribution, occupancy patterns and ecology within Namaqualand Klipkoppe shrubland, perhaps, and adjacent vegetation units (Davis et al. 2020). It is likely to be restricted to Namaqualand Klipkoppe shrubland at low elevations and to be replaced by related species elsewhere (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023).