The year of its first description – as "Barbus intermedius" – was for some time erroneously reported as 1837. "L. intermedius" was still placed by most modern authors in the "wastebin genus" "Barbus" by default, and the IUCN still does so until a thorough taxonomic revision of the African "barbs" is published. However, the species is increasingly being restored to related yellowfish genus "Labeobarbus", which seems a much more appropriate placement. It is a close relative of "Labeobarbus bynni", another African "barb".