This is a solitary fruit bat with a broad diet consisting of fruits (of Ficus spp especially), leaves, and nectar. It is particularly important for seed dispersal, especially at long distance and for large seeds (e.g., Terminalia catappa). In Japan, P. dasymallus roosts in dense forests, and can be seen foraging in forests, orchards, and in urban areas. It rests during the day either alone or in small groups hanging from the branches of trees.

This species is found in Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan. In Japan, it is found on the Osumi Islands (Kuchinoerabu), Tokara Islands (Nakano, Taira, Akuseki, Takara), Okinawa Islands, Yaeyama Islands (Ishigaki, Taketomi, Kohama, Iriomote, Hateruma, Kuro, Hatoma, Aragusuku, and Yonaguni), Miyako Islands (Tarama, Irabu, Miyako) and Daito Islands. In the Philippines, it occurs in the small northern islands of Batan, Babuyan Claro, Dalupiri, and Fuga. In Taiwan, a few individuals remain only on Lutao (Green island) and Guishan (Turtle island).

The species was included in Appendix II of CITES in 1990. In Japan, dasymallus and daitoensis are listed as Critically Endangered (CR IA) in the Japanese Red List (2012), have been designated as Natural Monuments, and the latter also as a Domestic Endangered Species. Inopinatus and Yayeyamae are listed as Near-Threatened (NT) by Okinawa Prefecture (2005). In the Red List of China, P. d. formosus is considered Endangered (EN) (Zhang et al. 2010).