Diagnosis: low counts of vertebrae and of gill rakers; exceptionally large oral tooth bands; premaxillary tooth band is laterally fairly broad and longitudinally broader than any other species in West African coastal streams; most distinctively colored species of Malapterurus (Ref. 34006).

Description: vertebrae 24+17=41 (3) and 25+16=41 (1); gill rakers 1+11=12 and 3+13=16 (in 121.5 mm holotype and 121 mm paratype); pectoral fin rays 8-9; pelvic rays 6 (Ref. 34006).

Coloration: nearly entire body covered with numerous small spots; expect for its pale margin, the entire caudal fin is black; narrow pale area on caudal peduncle partially invaded by spots; black bar from anterior of adipose fin base to anal fin base; posterior to this bar a very pale area; anal fin and almost entire adipose fin are pale (Ref. 34006). Caudal peduncle whitish in juveniles (Ref. 78218).