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 the related yellowfishgenusLabeobarbus, which seems a much more appropriate placement. It is a close relative of Labeobarbus bynni, another African "barb".[1][2]
No subspecies are recognized at present. The population from the Barino Riverbasin invalidly described as L. i. australis is identical to the earlier-named gregorii, but probably not sufficiently distinct from its conspecifics to consider it a separate taxon. The same holds true for the supposed subspecies leptosoma and microstoma. Important junior synonyms of this species are:[1]
Its close relatives L. brevicauda, L. gorgorensis and L. johnstonii (under the name latirostris), and even the rather distinct Barbus eurystomus, were for some time placed in "B." intermedius as subspecies too. But are considered distinct species today. B. procatopus is sometimes believed to refer to the present species, but it is actually a junior synonym of the ripon barbel (B. altianalis).[1]
Little is known about its population and ecology, but given its wide range and lack of readily apparent threats, it is not considered a threatened species by the IUCN.[1]
123de Graaf, Martin; Megens, Hendrik-Jan; Samallo, Johannis; Sibbing, Ferdinand (2010). "Preliminary insight into the age and origin of the Labeobarbus fish species flock from Lake Tana (Ethiopia) using the mtDNA cytochrome b gene". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 54 (2): 336–343. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.10.029. ISSN1055-7903. PMID19878730.
