Palaeoplatypygus zaitzevi was named by Kovalev (1985). Its type specimen is PIN 1255/268, a wing, and it is a compression fossil. Its type locality is Kubekovo village (PIN collection 1255), which is in a Bajocian/Bathonian lacustrine - large claystone in the Itat Formation of the Russian Federation. It is the type species of Palaeoplatypygus.