This species is being sold as the all comprising name of "spotted catfish" or in some cases Synodontis eupterus which can look similar when young but have more of a reticulated/striated pattern. When youngsters (see bottom pic.) their bodies are adorned with spots including all fins and as they grow into adulthood they begin to lose this trait and (as above) take on a change in colour and markings from a light coloured fish with spots to a dark brown with less spots. There are always spots that adorn the fins especially the adipose fin.

The holotype speciman resides in the Muséum National d' Histoire Naturelle de Paris and is a poor quality speciman although you can just see the spots in the adipose fin which may have pointed to a spotted body.

Another Syno which is alike is the Brown-spotted Syno, Synodontis robbianus, the difference is that robbianus seems to keep its spots into adulthood and attains a smaller size at 13cm. (5ins). The adipose fin is also larger in robbiana and does not have the upper lobe longer then the bottom, but the two can be quite difficult to tell apart.

Can be found in large lakes and waterways and are widespread on the African continent.