The big-eared mastiff bat was described as a new species in 1948 by American mammalogist Barbara Lawrence.

The holotype had been collected at Vailala River of Papua New Guinea, approximately 24 km (15 mi) to the west of the city of Kerema.

It has large, rounded ears that lack antitragi; the tragus is very small and scarcely visible.

Like some other species of free-tailed bat, there is a connecting band of tissue (interaural membrane) between its ears.

[2] Unlike some closely related genera of free-tailed bat, its upper lip is not wrinkled.