It is almost always associated with moist areas near multistratal evergreen forests. These bats tend to roost in small, single-species colonies of about ten to twenty-four, on tree trunks, in tree cavities, or in rock caves (Eisenberg 1989). When roosting they are often aligned in vertical rows with individuals about 10 mm apart. Several males occur in a roosting group, and there appears to be no harem formation or defence. These bats are aerial insectivores (Husson 1978, Goodwin and Greenhall 1961); and they tend to feed over water, flying only a short distance above the surface (Eisenberg 1989). In Mexico they have been also reported from secondary forests, crop-lands and grasslands (de Grammont pers. comm.)

This species ranges from Oaxaca and Veracruz, Mexico, to central and eastern Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Guianas, Suriname and Trinidad (Simmons 2005). It is widely distributed at low elevations, generally below 500 m (Eisenberg 1989) but up to 1,500 m.

This species occurs in protected areas. It is widely distributed throughout the Neotropics. In Mexico it is listed as subject to special protection under NOM - 059 - SEMARNAT - 2001 (Arroyo-Cabrales pers. comm.).