Aechmea cephaloides is endemic to the Pernambuco Center (Centro Pernambuco) and is restricted to the Brejos de altitude (i.e., isolated upper montane forests) at Taquaritinga do Norte and Brejo dos Cavalos at Caruaru, and in the Frei Caneca RPPN (Portuguese acronym for Private Natural Heritage Reserve or Reserva Particular do Patrimonio Natural) at Jaqueira, all in the state of Pernambuco. The species was seen in flower, but not collected, on tall trees at Brejo do Bonito Municipal Ecological Reserve. It is a facultative epiphyte and prefers shady forest habitats. It flowers from November to January and is pollinated mainly by the hummingbird Thalurania watertonii. In terms of conservation, A. cephaloides is considered to be vulnerable (Siqueira Filho, 2004). —SeeSiqueira & Leme 2007
