The dorsal fur can vary geographically from a reddish to a blackish tinge.

The dorsal hairs are unicolor and the plagiopatagium is broadly attached to the foot at the base of the toes.

The ventral hairs are bicolored, with a dark-brown base and yellowish tips.

[2] The riparian myotis is distributed widely throughout the neotropical region, and occurs from Honduras southward into Paraguay, northern Argentina and Uruguay.

[2] The riparian myotis tends to prefer primary forests and preserved habitats.