Microsynodontis hirsuta is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Gabon where it occurs in the Ntem River.

[3] However, when examining previously collected specimens from the lower Guinea region that had been identified as M. batesii, Dr. Ng discovered that the specimens actually consisted of nine distinct species, eight of them previously undescribed.

[1] M. hirsuta is a small fish, reaching a maximum standard length of 6.8 centimeters (2.7 in).

[4] M. hirsuta can be distinguished from other members of the genus Microsynodontis by examining the dorsal spine, and the Tubercles on the head.

The tubercles on the head are larger than other species in the genus, with an average length of 0.3 millimeters (0.012 in), where other species in the genus of the same size have tubercles that average 0.05 millimeters (0.0020 in) in length.