The ecology of this bat is poorly known. It inhabits in dry and semi-deciduous forest, and mature evergreen forests of the Amazonian and Atlantic forests (Gregorin et al. 2008) as well as Cerrado (L. Aguiar, pers. comm). Usually roosts in groups of two to 20 in wet limestone caves (most captures are made in or around roosts); also has been reported in hollow logs (Williams and Genoways 2008). It probably gleans prey (beetles, katydids) from the vegetation (Ortega and Arita 1997, Emmons and Feer 1997), but could take fruits too (Gardner 1977).

This species occurs from Costa Rica, northern Colombia, then in the north coastal region of Venezuela to the Guianas, and follow the coast of Brazil to southeastern and southwestern Brazil (Gregorin et al. 2008). It does not include cozumelae; see Baker et al. (1981), Simmons and Voss (1998), Williams and Genoways (2008).

It is important to reduce habitat loss and roost disturbance. The species occurs in a number of protected areas throughout its range. There seem to be two disjunct populations, it is important to validate the distribution and relationships as the northern component could represent (at least) an unnamed subspecies (Williams and Genoways 2008).