A hipposiderid that resembles the extant species Rhinonicteris aurantia, and related to 'leaf-nosed' bats found on other continents.

The leaf-shaped structure is an elaborate and fleshy arrangement that assisted the bat to locate its assumed prey, flying insects, by manipulating the high frequency sound used in echolocation.

[2] They inhabited limestone caves in large numbers, up to five thousand,[1] during a period 24-16 million years ago; this is supported by the evidence at Riversleigh, They are thought to have existed until the early Miocene.

Another bat species that was fossilised in the region was Australonycteris clarkae, which existed during the early Eocene period (55mya) and is amongst the most ancient to have been discovered.

[2] The nearest known relations are extant species in Madagascar and Vietnam and extinct bat taxa in France and the Arabian Peninsula.