[2] It is sometimes referred to as Australia's smallest mammal,[3][4] although the Northern or Koopmans Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus westralis, is possibly smaller, weighing on average around 3 g (0.11 oz).

[6] The little forest bat is very small with pale grey or brownish fur.

Live bats can be differentiated from these species using a combination of size, relative finger bone lengths and, in males, penis shape.

[9] The echolocation call of the little forest bat is regionally variable, in New South Wales the characteristic frequency of search phase calls is between 42.5 and 53 kilohertz depending on the region where it is found.

[10][11] This is more than double the maximum frequency of the human hearing range and cannot be heard without the assistance of a bat detector.