[3] Its species name aphylla was derived from the Ancient Greek word áphullos, meaning "leafless."

Its feet are very large in relation to its body, at 17 mm (0.67 in), and the uropatagium lacks a calcar.

Like other members of the Glossophaginae subfamily, it has a long tongue tipped with lingual papillae.

[5] Little is known about its reproduction, though Goodwin 1970 reported finding a pregnant female in January, per McFarlane 1986.

[4] In 1965, a female individual was held in captivity for one month before dying, living on a diet of banana, papaya, mango, and canned fruit nectar.

[1] [7] Previously, a "sizeable colony"–the only one known for this species–roosted in St. Clair Cave, although the Jamaican flower bat is no longer found there.

Goodwin also stated that fossilized remains of the species had been found in Wallingford and Runaway Bay Caves.

From 2008 to 2015, the IUCN had listed this species as least concern, which is the lowest risk level of extinction.