It is closely affiliated with the tribe Melanitini, of whom the Neotropical Manataria hercyna is closest related to the Dirini as a whole.

[4] The presence of a scaphium on the male genitalia was identified as the sole morphological synapomorphy which united the group.

[4] The following phylogenetic trees are adapted from Wahlberg and Brower, 2011:[5][9] Elymniini Zetherini Amathusiini Brassolini Morphini Melanitini Dirini Haeterini Satyrini Dingana Serradinga[b] Dira Torynesis Tarsocera Aeropetes Paralethe Members of the tribe are noted for their remarkable degree of endemism, being found almost exclusively in South Africa and Lesotho, with a single member whose distribution extends into eastern Zimbabwe.

[c][4] They are almost all found on high-lying ground, but are described by Price et al. as not a truly montane group, occurring on slopes from the south and east and from elevations at 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) in the north and west.

[4] Members of the tribe are found in South Africa's Succulent Karoo region and grasslands, which are dominated by C3 producing grasses, with the exception of Paralethe dendrophilus, which inhabits coastal and Afromontane forests.