[1][2][3] It was described as a new species by British paleontologist Charles William Andrews, in a monograph published in 1900.

Its species name "murrayi" was likely inspired by Sir John Murray, who helped pay for Andrews's expedition to the Christmas Island where he described it.

[15][16] In early August 2009 Australian Government gave permission to capture the bats to establish a captive breeding program.

Researchers were unable to catch it and the last echolocation call of this bat was recorded on 26 August 2009, when it went silent.

[13] Introduced species such as the common wolf snake, giant centipede,[20] yellow crazy ant, black rat or feral cats have all been identified as potential suspects responsible for the decline either through predation or disturbance of the bats.

It has also been speculated that an unidentified health threat, or poisoning from the insecticide Fipronil used to control yellow crazy ant 'supercolonies' could be responsible for the decline.