Taxonomic study of this species across its wide range using modern genetic techniques is needed. It is highly unlikely that the species inhabiting lakes and swamps in Uganda is the same as the species found only in rocky, cold highland tributaries of the Zambezi system and Lake Malawi affluent streams. The latter populations are absent from lakes and all large gently-flowing rivers, stillwaters and floodplains .

Clarias liocephalus is widely distributed. It occurs in rivers, lakes and marshes from the Congo River and Lake Victoria systems in the north to the Cunene, Okavango and Zambezi systems in the south. Local threats may affect certain subpopulations, but no major, widespread threats have been identified. This species is, therefore, listed as Least Concern.

Clarias liocephalus is widespread across much of Africa, from the northern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Namibia. It has been introduced in the Philippines, but it is unknown where and when this species was introduced from, and whether or not it has established itself.

Central Africa: Clarias liocephalus is known from the upper Congo River basin, including the Luapula-Mweru-Bangweulu system (Teugels 1986). The records of the Central Congo basin and of the northern part of the upper Congo basin have not been identified by G. Teugels and are outside the distribution range in Teugels (1986).

Eastern Africa: It is found in the Lake Victoria basin (Van Oijen 1995, Seegers et al. 2003), the Upper and Middle Akagera and associated lakes (De Vos et al. 2001b), Lake Edward, Lake George and Lake Kivu systems (Teugels 1986), affluent rivers to Lake Tanganyika (Poll 1953, Teugels 1986, Seegers 1996), the Rusizi (Teugels 1986, Banyankimbona et al. 2012) and Malagarasi drainages (De Vos et al. 2001a, Banyankimbona et al. 2012) and the Lake Rukwa drainage (Seegers 1996). It is also known from upper reaches of the South Rukuru River in Malawi (Jackson 1961 (as Clarias carsonii), Snoeks 2004, Tweddle and Skelton 2008). Its lower distribution limit in Malawi streams is 915 m.

Northeast Africa: It is a rare and small species recorded from Sudan by Bianchi (as cited in Bailey 1994).

Southern Africa: This species is present in the Cunene, Okavango, Upper Zambezi and Kafue systems (Skelton 2001). In the Zambezian systems it is only found in upland tributaries and not in the larger rivers.

Limited information is available on the population, though it is likely that it is widely distributed and fairly common. However, in eastern Africa, where formerly it was very common, this species has strongly declined in the upper Akagera system, most likely because of predation by, or competition with, the introduced Clarias gariepinus and Schilbe intermedius (De Vos et al. 2001b). It is very rare in the South Rukuru River system in Malawi, where Tweddle and Willoughby (1978) recorded only four specimens in 1976.

Clarias liocephalus is a demersal species that occurs in marginal grass, papyrus and water-lily swamps around rivers and lakes (Greenwood 1966, Seegers 1996). In Malawi it is rare and only found in highland tributaries of the South Rukuru River, where it lurks under stones and is rarely seen (Jackson, 1961, Tweddle and Willoughby 1978). In Upper Zambezi tributaries in Zambia it is common in rocky streams but is absent from floodplains and non-rocky tributaries (Tweddle et al. 2004). In the Rukwa drainage it is sometimes found in very cold upland streams (Seegers 2008). This air-breathing catfish is omnivorous, feeding on insects and their larvae, as well as small fish and vegetable matter (Seegers 1996). Specimens from Lake Victoria are principally insectivorous, but larger individuals are piscivorous (Greenwood 1966). Little is known about the breeding behaviour of this species (Teugels 1986, Seegers 1996). The maximum size is 31.7 cm TL (Teugels 1986).

For the majority of its distribution, no major threats to this species are known. In eastern Africa, this species is threatened by the regression of swamps and other wetlands due to agriculture extension in general. In the Lake George-Lake Edward area, this species is threatened by mining activities. In the Lake Victoria basin, this species is threatened by the over-abstraction of water, eutrophication, competition with introduced species, fishing pressure and future mining activities. In the Malagarazi and Rusizi River basins sedimentation and increased use of agrochemicals (pesticides and fertilisers) as a result of agricultural expansion threatens this species, while mining activities (nickel, gold) in the upper Malagarazi catchment may threaten this species in the future (West 2001). In the South Rukuru River, Malawi, streams are are severely degraded as a result of increasing human populations, deforestation and poor agricultural practices.

This species is harvested for human consumption. Clarias liocephalus is in high demand for sale as live bait in the Nile Perch fishery of Lake Victoria and equally important in the diet of local communities in the lake basin (Yatuha et al. 2012).

No conservation actions are known for this species. Research is needed into its taxonomy, threats and potential actions alongside monitoring of population, harvest and habitats trends with habitat management and restoration.