[2] This bat was originally considered a distinct species, before being relegated to a synonym of M. pumilus.

However, the presumed Seychelles populations of M. pumilus were discovered to be smaller than the ones in Kenya and Madagascar, leading to the resurrection of the name as a distinct species.

It has a dark brown venter, with a small white mid-ventral patch in rare cases.

Comorian populations of the bat have a distinct whitish or beige strip of hairs at the base of the wings.

On Comoros, it was not observed roosting in natural sites, but instead mostly in the attics of public buildings.