The natural history of this bat is poorly known. It is found in evergreen highland forest and forest edges. Found in montane forests and strongly associated with highland habitats (Wilson 2008). It apparently prefers forested areas in these cooler montane areas, where day roosts are known to include hollow trees. They have been mistnetted over roads and in clearings in the forest, as well as in more open areas adjacent to the forest (Linares 1998). Pregnant females have been recorded in February and July (Gardner et al. 1970, Reid 2009). It seems to tolerate some range of human disturbance.

This species is known from the Andes of Venezuela to Bolivia, plus the mountains of Panama and Costa Rica (Simmons 2005, Wilson 2008). In Bolivia it is found up to 3,800 m, in Venezuela between 1,800-3,100 m, in Colombia between 1,000-2,880 m, and in Peru between 2,600-3,900 m. It seems to be restricted to Andean Montane formations, especially to forested areas.

This species occurs in protected areas through its geographic distribution.