[3] It is found in the Napo and Pastaza River drainages in eastern Ecuador and in the Loreto Region, northern Peru.

[1][4][5] The specific name deridens is derived from Latin deridere, meaning "make fun of someone".

This alludes to the males calling from the treetops that sound "as if they are laughing at the collectors' vain attempts to reach them".

[2] Osteocephalus deridens inhabits Napo moist forests at elevations of 200–600 m (660–1,970 ft) above sea level.

It does not adapt well to anthropogenic disturbance and is threatened by habitat loss caused by agriculture and logging.