Cheilobarbus was first proposed as a taxon, a monotypic subgenus of the genus Barbus, by the Scottish military surgeon and zoologist Andrew Smith in 1841[1] when he described Barbus (Cheilobarbus) capensis from the Olifants River on the western coast of South Africa.

[5] Cheilobarbus fishes are among the largest of the South African barb species and reach standard lengths greater than 15 cm (5.9 in).

They have an inferior mouth which has large, firm lips and there are two pairs of barbels Adults show a reddening on the crown and on a scale row above the pectoral fins during the spawning season.

[7] These fishes prefer deeper parts of large rivers as adults, including impoundments.

[6][7] Cheilobarbus species reproduce in the summer and form large groups that spawn together on rocky bottoms.