[1] It was described as a new species in 2016 based on a specimen collected from the Sinharaja Forest Reserve in Sri Lanka.

It is closely related to the neotropical species Megalotremis flavovulcanus, differing mainly in the shape of the pycnidia.

[2] The thallus of Megalotremis cylindrica is corticate, smooth to granular, dull, continuous, thin, and olive grey in colour.

[2] Chemical spot tests (UV, C, K, KC, Pd) on the thallus are all negative, and thin-layer chromatography did not detect any substances.

[2] This species has been found growing on tree bark in the wet lowland tropical rainforest of Sinharaja, Sri Lanka.