It is poorly known. It is strongly associated with multistratal tropical evergreen forests but is broadly tolerant of man-made clearings in Venezuela (Handley 1976). This mixed feeder will take fruits as well as insects. It has been recorded feeding on larvae and pupae, and from the nest of a social wasp. One individual caught in Costa Rica had eaten fruit, especially those of cucurbit vines (LaVal 1977). One was collected while it was attacking a large rat, apparently a Proechimys. Females bear a single young. These bats are found around streams and swamps or marshes. It is usually captured in mist nets set over streams in evergreen forest. The roost is undescribed (Emmons and Feer 1997).

This species occurs from Chiapas (Mexico) and Belize, is patchily distributed through Honduras and the rest of Central America (not recorded in Nicaragua), to south Peru, Bolivia and southeastern Brazil, but appears to be absent from dry deciduous forest over much of southeastern Brazil (Eisenberg 1989, Reid 1997). However, it has recently been captured in Pantanal and Cerrado (Aguiar pers. comm.). It occurs in lowlands to 2,600 m asl (Emmons and Feer 1997).

The recommended conservation action is to reduce habitat loss (GMA Brazil). This species occurs in a number of protected areas throughout its range.
In Mexico, it is listed as threatened under NOM - 059 - SEMARNAT - 2001 (as Phyllostomus stenops; Arroyo-Cabrales pers. comm.).