This species forms maternal colonies in shelters such as caves and hollow trees. Several hundred females and their young can roost together. They prefer to roost in small numbers (less than 20 individuals) near the entrance of caves, where the temperature is cool (26.7-28.7 °C) and well ventilated. Normally a single young is born. The time of reproduction can be strongly seasonal in habitats with pronounced rainfall cycles, but females are polyestrous and can bear two or three young per year (Webster et al. 1998). Though fully capable of hovering in flight while taking nectar from flowers, this bat is also to some extent a foliage-gleaning insectivore (Howell 1983). Activity periods are bimodal, just before dawn and just after dusk. Seems restricted to dry habitat types and open areas (P. Soriano pers. comm.).The species is thought to feed on fruit, pollen and nectar, with some insects taken incidentally (Gardner 1977); in Merida, Venezuela, Soriano et al. (1991) reported nectar, pollen and fruit of columnar cacti and Moraceae fruits in their feces. Fruit and pollen comprise 55% and 44% of their total annual diet, respectively.

This species occurs in Colombia, Venezuela (including Margarita Island), north Brazil (only in Roraima; Webster and Handley 1986), Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, St Vincent, Curaçao, Bonaire, and Aruba (Lesser Antilles). The records from Dominica and Ecuador are erroneous (Simmons 2005). Elevational range goes from 0 to 2,250 meters (D. Lew pers. comm.). The species is in need of a thorough taxonomic revision; it contains many subspecies, including elongata (Webster and Handley 1986).

A thoroughly review of the taxonomic status of its many subspecies is required to understand the distribution, extension and connectivity among populations. Also, the current habitat loss by transformation into cultivated or ranching areas should be reduced or managed.