It is found in tunnels and the understory. Bats of this species are widespread and highly abundant in many localities of the Neotropics. They demonstrate a strong preference for fruits of the family Piperaceae (Fleming 1988), but may feed on at least 38 different plant families (Geiselman et al. 2002). They may also feed on nectar, pollen and insects during seasons of low fruit availability (Mello et al. 2004). A more generalist diet may be a mechanism that allow coexistence of this species and other member of the same genus in the same locality (Thies and Kalko 2004), and the focus on Piper may reduce competition with other small-sized frugivorous phyllostomids like Sturnira (Marinho-Filho 1991). These bats present the typical bimodal reproductive pattern of plant-eating phyllostomids, and the timing of their breeding seasons is mainly determined by climate and fruiting food-plants (Mello et al. 2004). Cloutier and Thomas (1992) report that C. perspicillata bats may form colonies from a few to hundreds of individuals. Charles-Dominique (1991) observed differences in feeding behaviour between males and females, especially during the reproductive season. There is a strong reduction in number of captures of these bats in mist-nets during brighter periods and nights, an evidence of lunar phobia (Mello 2006).

This species occurs in Oaxaca, Veracruz and the Yucatán Peninsula (Mexico) to Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and the Guianas. It is also in Trinidad and Tobago, and perhaps the northern Lesser Antilles (Simmons 2005).

This species needs taxonomic review. It is found in protected areas.