This morphologically cryptic species is largely solitary. It can be found in primary and secondary tropical moist forest, rural gardens, and swamps. Roosts occur in vegetation. Females give birth to single young and pregnant females have been reported throughout most of the year (Bonaccorso 1998).

Until recently, the assumed distribution of both Paranyctimene raptor and P. tenax was considered to span the island of New Guinea, plus the islands of Salawati and Waigeo. Unpublished genetic results (K.N. Armstrong unpublished data) support information in Helgen (2007) that: “Paranyctimene tenax may be widely distributed in the northern lowlands of New Guinea and P. raptor in the south (N. Irwin pers. comm.).” The type locality is on the Upper Fly River, Papua New Guinea, which is also consistent with a southern distribution of P. raptor in New Guinea. It ranges from sea level to 1,350 m asl.

It is presumed to be present in most protected areas within its range. Broadscale protection of forests will help maintain population size in this species.