It is found on the Amazonian versant of Andes in northeast Peru (San Martín Region), eastern Ecuador (Napo Province), and southern Colombia (Cauca and Putumayo Departments).

[2][3] The generic placement of what was originally described as Centrolenella audax in 1973 has long been uncertain, but in 2014 it was placed in the genus Espadarana.

At the same time, Centrolene fernandoi was brought into synonymy with Espadarana audax.

The texture of dorsal skin is shagreen and includes spinules and white warts.

[4] The species' natural habitats are moist montane forests at elevations of 1,300–1,900 m (4,300–6,200 ft) above sea level.