This species can be found in deciduous and evergreen forest, it is most common in dense second growth and low, seasonally flooded forest, where it is sometimes abundant. In deciduous forest, it is often caught in mist nets set over small pools of water (Reid 1997). It is also found in dry forest, gallery forest, plantations, and gardens. It apparently adapts well to extremely disturbed habitats and can live in city parks and scrubby forest near cane fields. It roosts in vine tangles and dense foliage. Males roost singly or in groups of two or three, a number may be dispersed around the same tree. Females roost in dense clusters. While roosting, the mask of skin is pulled up tightly completely over the face and forehead and covers the horizontal flaps of the ears, a ridge across the crown holds it in place and/or forms an air channel for breathing. It flies rapidly like big, heavy beetles, with a wobbly motion, sometimes with the body vertical to the ground (Emmons and Feer 1997). Activity starts soon after sunset but is curtailed around full moon. This bat feeds on fruit, possibly by biting ripe fruits and sucking the juice. The facial folds may be used to direct juice to the mouth. Captives will accept green fruits, however, little is known of their feeding behaviour in the wild (Snow et al. 1980, Reid 1997).

This species is known from Colombia and Venezuela to Tamaulipas and Sinaloa (Mexico), also in Trinidad and Tobago (Simmons 2005). It occurs from lowlands to 1,400 m (Reid 2009). It does not occur in highland zones in Guatemala (McCarthy pers. comm.).

Research actions are needed. It is found in protected areas.