Mephisto albomaculosus was first formally described in 2018 by Keiichi Matsuura, Peter N. Psomadakis and Mya Than Tun with its type locality given as off the Tanintharyi coast of Myanmar in the Andaman Sea at 10°21.85'N, 96°44.83'E form a depth between 376 and 379 m (1,234 and 1,243 ft).

[2] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the family Triacanthodidae in the suborder Triacanthoidei in the order Tetraodontiformes.

This name refres to the reddish exterior, black interior and horn-like spikes of the type species.

[4] Mephisto albomaculosus is distinguished from its only known congener, M. fraserbrunneri by the pinkish-red body being marked with many clear round white spots, approximately the same size of the eye.

[5] Mephisto albomaculosus has been recorded twice, the holotype from the Andaman Sea off Myanmar taken from a deoth between 376 and 379 m (1,234 and 1,243 ft), and a photograph referred to as M. cf albomaculosus taken at a depth of 75 m (246 ft) in the Bay of Bengal.