[2] It was described by Nikolay Alekseyevich Bobrinski in 1926, but was later synonymized with the grey long-eared bat (P. austriacus).

However, a 2006 genetic and morphological study found it to be a distinct species and revived it as such.

[1][3] The results of this study have been followed by the American Society of Mammalogists, the IUCN Red List, and the ITIS.

[1] It is not thought to face any major threats at present, so it is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

However, it may be potentially threatened by commercial mining and agricultural land development.