It is endemic to the Biak Islands (Schouten Islands) and Cenderawasih Bay (Geelvinck Bay) area of Papua Province, located in Western New Guinea, Indonesia.

It was described as a new species in 1886 by British zoologist Oldfield Thomas and Italian naturalist Giacomo Doria.

[3] It is nocturnal, roosting in sheltered places during the day such as caves.

Its range encompasses several islands of Indonesia, including Halmahera, Bacan, Gebe, Biak, Supiori, Numfoor, and Vogelkop Peninsula of New Guinea.

[1] As of 2021, it was evaluated as least concern by the IUCN—its lowest conservation priority.