It was described in 2014 based on specimens from the Tam Đảo National Park in Vietnam, hence, the specific name tamdaoensis.

[2] It was described by Joachim Bresseel and Jérôme Constant, biologists of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS).

In the same paper they also reported the discovery of another new subspecies, Phryganistria heusii yentuensis, which – measuring 32 cm long – is the second biggest insect known to date.

[3] In contrast, P. tamdaoensis, measuring only 23 cm long, is one of the smallest species under giant sticks.

Constant and P. Limbourg, both of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, from Tam Đảo National Park in northwestern Vietnam.

The subapical spine on the outer ventral carinae of meso- and meta-femora in male is less conspicuous than in other species.