The Bismarck trumpet-eared bat was described as a new species in 1914 by British mammalogist Oldfield Thomas.

The holotype had been collected on Manus Island, which is part of the Bismarck Archipelago.

Its echolocation calls have low energy, meaning that it is unlikely to be detected by acoustic detectors unless it passes close to the device's microphone.

[4] It is found in Papua New Guinea, though its range may also include Indonesia.

It meets the criteria for this designation regarding its population size, ecological requirements, and threats it may be facing.