Found in Namibia, it was formally described as a new species in 1986 by American lichenologist Mason Hale.

The type specimen was collected by Hale from the Laguneberg Mountains, southeast of Cape Cross.

The specific epithet honours Emmanuël Sérusiaux, who, according to Hale, "was the first lichenologist to collect this unusual lichen in Namibia".

[1] The lichen has a foliose thallus measuring 5–10 cm (2–4 in) wide with a dull greenish-yellow colour that tends to blacken in the centre with age.

[1] In a study of the lichen growth form distributions within the lichen fields of the Central Namib desert, Xanthoparmelia serusiauxii was found to occur in areas subject to the abrasive action of strong winds carrying sand, and subject to more severe drought due to less frequent occurrence of fog.