The Ethiopian long-eared bat is a typical medium-size representative of the genus Plecotus sensu stricto which differs from the widespread Palearctic species grey long-eared bat by its smaller overall size, having a small head, short snout, dark-brownish fur, and an absence of any yellow tinges to the fur.

[1] The Ethiopian long-eared bat has only ever been recorded as occurring in humid evergreen montane forest.

These bats have been reported to forage in the more open parts of the forest or at the edges of clearings.

gaisleri in Cyrenaica, with populations of the Mediterranean long-eared bat Plecotus kolombatovici found between them.

There is still a lot of research to be carried out to resolve the phylogenetic relationships in the genus Plecotus.