The species was first described by Casto de Elera in 1885; it was also mentioned by de Elera in an 1895 work.[4][5] In the past, this species has been included with the Sunda pangolin, Manis javanica, but has been considered a distinct species since 1998.[6] Five distinct morphological characteristics involving the skull and the scales have been identified which separate it from the closely related M. javanica.