This antbird occurs in forested parts of southern Amazonia. In places where it meets the related Rhegmatorhina hoffmannsi, studies report geographic variation in throat and chest color.
In the studied contact zone, R. berlepschi had a dark throat and brown chest. Some birds showed intermediate throat and chest colors; the study pooled sexes after finding no significant color difference between females and males.
The paper identifies this species and the White-breasted Antbird as obligate army-ant followers. It also refers to Eciton ants followed by the study birds in the contact zone.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.