Epidendrosaurus ningchengensis was named by Zhang et al. (2002). Its type specimen is IVPP V12653, a skeleton (mostly complete skeleton missing some skull elements, partial axial bones and the pelvic girdle), and it is a compression fossil. Its type locality is Daohugou (IVPP collection), which is in a Callovian lacustrine - large shale/tuff in the Tiaojishan Formation of China.