This insectivorous bat species roosts in rock crevices, in hollow bamboo, and in banana leaves in Peninsular Malaysia (Kofron 1994). It appears to inhabit both primary and secondary forests, often with a high proportion of bamboo (Mohd-Hanif et al. 2015).

The species occurs in extreme southern Thailand (South of the Kra Isthmus), Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo (Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei), extreme northern Sumatra, Bacan (Maluku) in Indonesia, and Palawan in the Philippines. Is it considered allopatric with other species in the genus such as G. javanus, G. bucephalus and G. aquilus (Csorba 2011, Csorba et al. 2015, Flannery 1995, Heaney et al. 1998).

There are no species-specific conservation initiatives, although the species is found in a number of protected areas throughout its range. Research is needed to refines its distribution, elevational range, ecology, and population status and trends.