It was discovered in old-growth cloud forest on Des Vœux Peak, the second highest mountain peak (1,195 m; 3,921 ft) on the island of Taveuni by William and Ruth Beckon in 1976,[2] and is Fiji's only endemic mammal.

Their eyes are distinctly orange, which helps distinguish this species from other Fijian megabats.

They appear to shelter in clumps of epiphytic plants that live in the cloud forest canopy.

[5] The Fijian monkey-faced bat is found only on the third-largest island of Fiji, Taveuni.

[10] Their habitat is being lost and fragmented by pollution, agriculture, extreme weather, and urbanization.

Climate change is anticipated to shrink cloud forests worldwide, resulting in further habitat loss.