It was initially misidentified as a short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus) but later identified by Kitti Thonglongya as a new species and was named after Indian ornithologist Salim Ali in 1972.
Initially misidentified as a short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus) and later identified as a new species by Kitti Thonglongya, which was then named after Indian ornithologist Salim Ali in 1972.