It is strongly associated with moist habitats and is most frequently encountered in multistratal tropical forest (Eisenberg and Redford 1999). It is usually found in mature, evergreen forest, occasionally deciduous forest and agricultural areas (Reid 1997). This bat is an aerial and gleaning insectivore, it occasionally consumes fruits. It roosts in caves or tunnels, such as mine tunnels and forms colonies of 12 to 25, sometimes up to hundreds (Goodwin and Greenhall 1961, Reid 1997, Eisenberg and Redford 1999). Activity begins well after sunset, in full darkness. This bat is an extremely agile flier and may stop and hover in front of a mist net or escape through small gasps. It is sometimes caught in nets across streams or paths through forest (Reid 1997).

This species is broadly distributed from Oaxaca and Veracruz (Mexico) south to southeast Brazil, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador, Trinidad and perhaps New Providence Island (Bahamas; see Jones and Carter 1976, Simmons 2005). This species occurs in the lowlands and it has not been taken above 1,500 m asl (Reid 1997). It also occurs in Nicaragua (Medina et al. in press).

Conservation of caves and karstic habitats is the recommended conservation action. This species occurs in a number of protected areas throughout its range, including in Belize (Miller pers. comm.). In Mexico is listed as threatened under NOM - 059 - SEMARNAT - 2001 (Arroyo-Cabrales pers. comm.).