This species inhabits primary forest, all known records are from lowland areas (C. Francis, T. Kingston and S. Bumrungsri pers. comm.). In Malaysia, the species has been reported roosting in small groups of up to 15 individuals, in very large fallen trees with deep hollows (Kingston et al. 2006). Records from Kuala Lumpur found this species to roost in drainage pipes with up to 50 individuals (Gould 1978). It is found at 100 m asl in lowland areas near to water in Thailand, and is also reported as roosting in trees, not caves (Bumrungsri et al. in press).

This species is found in Peninsular Malaysia including Kuala Lumpur, Krau Wildlife Reserve and Kuala Atok. It was also recorded in Singapore (Botanic Gardens), and in Borneo it was found in Sarawak at Lambir Hills National Park, Kubah National Park, Similajau National Park and Wind Cave Nature Reserve. It is widely distributed in the Westen part of Sarawak. In Sabah, this species is known from lower Kinabatangan wildlife reserve (Mahyudin, A). This species was also confirmed in Brunei Darussalam and Sabah (Malaysia), but probably also occurs in Kalimantan (Indonesia) and Peninsula Thailand.

This species occurs in protected areas in Thailand (S. Bumrungsri pers. comm.), there are records from G'Niut National Park. Populations in Sarawak are recorded from protected areas including Kubah National Park, Similajau National Park, Lambir Hills National Park and Wind Cave Nature Reserve. In Peninsular Malaysia, it was found in protected areas such as Kuala Atok Forest Reserve (Tingga et al. 2012) and Krau Wildlife Reserve (Kingston 2009).