 The species was first described by Robert Tomes in his 1858 monograph of the genus.Tomes distinguished the new species with a comparison to "Miniopterus blepotis", in details of morphology and fur, and with standardised measurements using the breadth of the forearm; "M. bleopotis" was assigned in the broadly dispersed "Miniopterus schreibersi" species complex.The type locality is named as Lifu in the Loyalty Islands, a province of New Caledonia.