[2] It was first described by German naturalist and explorer Wilhelm Peters in 1852, from specimens collected in the Zambezi River in Mozambique.

[3] Like all members of the genus Synodontis, S. zambezensis has a strong, bony head capsule that extends back as far as the first spine of the dorsal fin.

[3] In S. zambezensis, the spine of the dorsal fin is slightly curved, short, about 1⁄2 as long as the head, smooth in the front and serrated on the back.

[5] All members of Syndontis have a structure called a premaxillary toothpad, which is located on the very front of the upper jaw of the mouth.

[5] On the lower jaw, or mandible, the teeth of Syndontis are attached to flexible, stalk-like structures and described as "s-shaped" or "hooked".

[2] The reproductive habits of most of the species of Synodontis are not known, beyond some instances of obtaining egg counts from gravid females.

[8] The fish feeds on detritus and plant matter such as seeds, as well as small invertebrates like insects and snails.