The origin of the name Neoarius berneyi is Greek, with the genus name Neoarius coming from the words neos meaning new and arios, meaning warlike or hostile, in reference to the well developed fin spines, and the species name, berneyi, comes from the ornithologist F. L.

[2] Neoarius berneyi is found around the South Pacific coast areas of Northern Australia and New Guinea.

The palatal teeth patches are roughly the same size, inside larger than outside, and the fish is a silvery bronze to a dark gray overall, and paler below.

N. berneyi appears to favor slow streams, and is often found in turbid conditions.

[3] The fish consumes benthic crustaceans, insect larvae, aquatic plants, mice[5] and bottom detritus.