Colonies in excess of 1,000 individuals have been observed in limestone caves, mine adits and military tunnels, such as on the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea and the Arfak Mountains of Papua Province, Indonesia (Bonaccorso 1998). Females give birth in late October (Bonaccorso 1998). Its echolocation call is relatively low and distinctive in Papua New Guinea, with a characteristic frequency 52–58 kHz (Leary and Pennay 2011; Robson et al. 2012).

This species is widespread in parts of Wallacea, and the island of New Guinea and its nearby islands (Flannery 1995a,b; Bonaccorso 1998; Csorba et al. 2003; Simmons 2005). It is represented in Indonesia as R. e. euryotis on the islands of Sulawesi, Amboina, Seram and the Tanimbar Islands; as R. e. burius on the Buru Islands; as R. e. praestans on the Kai Islands; as R. e. aruensis on the Aru Islands; and as R. e. timidus on the islands of Halmahera, Bacan, Walgeo, Japen, and Papua Province on the island of New Guinea. It is also present in Papua New Guinea, including on the mainland, and the islands of New Britain, New Ireland and Kiriwina, as R. e. timidus. It has been recorded in habitats ranging in elevation from sea level to 2,050 m (Robson et al. 2012).

It is present in several protected areas across its range. The protection of known underground roosts should be a priority for management, but consideration of the area and quality of foraging habitat around roosts is equally important for maintaining area of occupancy. The addition of gates over mine entrances could have a seriously detrimental effect on colony size. Taxonomic resolution of the various forms on different islands will help with future assessments of conservation status.