It contains the typical labeos in the subfamily Labeoninae, which may not be a valid group, however, and is often included in the Cyprininae as tribe Labeonini.

If the Labeoninae are accepted as distinct, Labeonini is the name of the tribe in this subfamily to which the labeos belong.

The labeos appear fairly similar to the "freshwater sharks" of the genus Epalzeorhynchos, which is also part of the Labeoninae (or Labeonini), but is not very closely related.

Thus, their mouth parts are moderately apomorphic; not as little-developed as in barbs or in Epalzeorhynchos, but neither as extensive as in, for example, Garra or Ptychidio.

In the Weberian apparatus, the posterior supraneural bone is elongated and contacts the skull at the forward end.