[2] It is present on the islands of Sumba, Rote, Sumbawa, Flores, Semau, and Savu.

It was initially described as a subspecies of the intermediate roundleaf bat (Hipposideros larvatus) in 1960 by Oei Hong Peng.

[4] As the genus Hipposideros is speciose, it is divided into closely related species groups— the Sumba roundleaf bat is in the larvatus species group.

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

It is locally common and it tolerates human modification of the landscape, as evinced by it roosting in houses sometimes.