This molossid is a microhabitat specialist (Willig 1985). In Venezuela its local distribution is restricted to areas containing rocky outcrops where it roosts close to the ground in narrow horizontal crevices beneath granitic exfoliations (Handley 1976, Sazima and Taddei 1976). The geographic distribution of flat-headed bats may be in part determined by presence of appropriate roost sites (Emmons and Feer 1997). Small holometabolous insect taxa compose the diet of this species; coleopterans were the predominant food items; Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Orthoptera, and Balttodea have also been found (Willig 1985). The peculiar aerodynamic characteristics of Neoplatymops result in low agility for a volant mammal and increased foraging maneuverability for a molossid (Freeman 1981, Peterson 1965). As a result, this flat-headed bat occupies an atypical molossid niche (Willig and Jones 1985). It is an aerial insectivore that exploits uncluttered space.

The distribution of Neoplatymops mattogrossensis is not especially well documented. It is known to occur from southeastern Venezuela and southwestern Guyana southward to eastern and central Brazil, in Rio Branco and from Mato Grosso to Bahia (Willig and Jones 1985, Eger 2008). One single specimen from eastern Colombia is the most eastern record of the species (Eger 2008). There is also one record from Itaituba in Para state in the central Amazon (E. Bernard pers. comm.), and also in Paraiba (Sousa et al. 2004).

Its wide distribution encompasses a number of protected areas. Roost sites should be protected from disturbance.