[6] Hepsetis cuvieri has the genus name Hepsetus which was proposed by William Swainson in 1838, Swanson did not explain the etymology of this name but it is most lilely derived from the ancient Greek hepsētós, a small fish, such as the anchovy, which is boiled for human consumption.

[7] Hepsetus cuvieri is found in the southern third of Africa where it inhabits the Quanza, Cunene, Okavango, upper Zambezi, Kafue and Congo River basins.

[8] Hepsetus cuvieri can be distinguished from Hepsetus odoe as it has a lower count of gill rakers on the first gill arch, of 8–13 as opposed to 14–21; a normally higher number of scales between the lateral line and the dorsal fin, 10.5–11.5 as opposed to 7.5–10.5; a typically higher number of scales from the adipose fin and the lateral line, 6.5–7.5 as opposed to 4.5–6.5; and a distinctive colour pattern characterized by a mottled appearance of the dark brown blotches on the lateral surface of the body versus distinct vertical brown stripes in that region in H.

[2] Hepsetus cuvieri prefers quiet, deep water, such as channels and oxbow lakes; the juveniles and fry inhabit dense marginal vegetation.

[9] It breeds over the summer months, spawning more than once in a free-floating bubblenest which the adults guard;[10] it is relatively short-lived, only living for 4–5 years.

[8] Immediately before spawning, the male and female pair up and become territorial, building large bubblenests amongst surface vegetation.