The Mexican long-tongued bat has short ears, a long, narrow rostrum, big eyes, a minute tail, and a leaf-like projection of skin above the nostrils called a nose leaf. It is a medium sized bat that weighs about 25 grams and is between 3 and 3.5 inches long. The fur is gray to brown above and lighter on the underside. The tongue of the Mexican long-tongued bat extends up to 1/3 of its body length.

Choeronycteris mexicana feeds and pollinates many different cacti species including saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea), organ-pipe cactus (Stenocereus thurberi), agaves (Agave spp.), and cardon (Pachycereus pringlei).

This bat lives in a variety of habitats, including desert, semidesert grassland, montane, riparian, tropical deciduous forests, and urban environments. The bat is most frequently found roosting in desert canyons, but also in deep caves, mines, rock crevices, and abandoned buildings.

This species is common throughout Mexico. Its range extends through Central and northern South America and to the southern parts of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. However, it is rare in the United States.