The first known collection of "N. vogelii", made in 1961, was labelled as "N. fusca". In 1969, botanist Shigeo Kurata examined this specimen and noted that it did not fall within the known variation exhibited by "N. fusca". Nevertheless, the species remained undescribed until 2002. "Nepenthes vogelii" differs in having much smaller pitchers and lacking appendages on the underside of the lid. In addition, the lid of "N. vogelii" is broadly triangular as opposed to the narrowly triangular lid of "N. fusca". The colour of the pitchers—light cream with dark speckles—is also distinctive.