This species is not well known compared to congeners. Artibeus obscurus is found mainly in tropical humid forests and secondary habitats including palm groves, orchards, croplands, pastures, and yards in the greater Amazon basin (Gardner 2008). In Venezuela the species is associated with moist habitats and multistratal tropical evergreen forest (Handley 1976). It is also found in savannah, Cerrado and Caatinga vegetation. Roosts in hollow trees, foliage, and palm trees. The diet includes figs and Cecropia seeds. Fruits are plucked by mouth and taken to feeding roosts. Its habitat may be more specialized in the eastern part of its range.

The species is found east of the Andes in southern Colombia and Venezuela, eastern Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and into the adjacent portions of the Guyanas and most of Brazil even to Santa Catarina state (Eisenberg 1989, Simmons 2005). Most specimens have been taken below 500 m elevation in Venezuela (Handley 1976).

Reduction of habitat destruction and fragmentation are needed.