It was described as a new species in 1981 by James Dale Smith and J. Edwards Hill.

The holotype had been collected in 1979 in Lengmebung Cave on New Ireland Island.

The eponym for the species name "maggietaylorae" is Margaret (Maggie) Taylor.

Taylor had financed Smith's research expedition to the Bismarck Archipelago in 1979.

It has dense, woolly fur that is shorter on the head and neck than the rest of the body.