Rhinonicteris aurantia roosts in caves and old underground mine workings in colonies of a few to several thousand individuals. Physiological studies have demonstrated that this species has one of the highest measured rates of pulmocutaneous water loss of any mammal and is unable to enter torpor (Baudinette et al. 2000), and thus it has an obligate requirement for warm, humid roost microclimates that are physiologically benign (Churchill 1991; Armstrong 2001). Deeper caves and mines that have the capacity to support these conditions are relatively uncommon in most rocky northern landscapes, which limits roosting opportunity, area of occupancy, and results in aggregations in relatively few subterranean structures. In the arid Pilbara region, bats will accumulate in the deepest structures during the hottest and driest parts of the year, spreading further afield when wetter conditions provide the opportunity for shallower caves to provide humid microclimates (Armstrong 2001). In the monsoonal north, the humid conditions probably allow more shallow caves to be used, and there have been rare reports of roosting in buildings. A suggestion of tree roosting is often quoted based on the comments of Churchill (1991, 1994), but this has never been confirmed in any population. In the Northern Territory both sexes accumulate into larger colonies to mate, but later in the breeding season many females disappear from known caves, and maternity colonies have not yet been observed in this region. Females give birth to a single young and lactation occurs in the wet season when insect availability is high (Churchill 1994).

Rhinonicteris aurantia are strong and highly acrobatic fliers, in contrast to many small hipposiderids bats, and forage in the open around vegetation (Bullen and McKenzie 2002), usually within a few metres of the ground (Churchill et al. 1988). They feed on a wide variety of insects, though mainly smaller moths and beetles and occasional seasonal abundances of groups such as isopterans (Churchill 1994). There is a possibility that they feed on accumulations of small insects at cave entrances (Cramer et al. 2016), possibly accounting for their commonly observed night visitation of underground structures that are not used during the day for roosting. They are normally observed foraging in gullies, gorges and larger watercourses, as well as open woodland and over hummock grasslands (Churchill et al. 1988; Armstrong 2001).

It is considered to be protected and secure in numerous protected areas in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia, Northern Territory and north-western Queensland, though several of the largest colonies are not in protected areas. Further studies are needed into the distribution, roost site locations, abundance, biology, and threats to this species (Cramer et al. 2016). A national conservation plan, incorporating a regional approach to management in the Pilbara region, would assist both mining proponents and government land managers (Armstrong 2001, 2010, 2011), and targeted, collaborative approaches between industry and wildlife managers for active management of stronghold colonies in underground mine workings and caves with colonies of significant size would help reduce the risk of losses from both insidious and catastrophic causes.