It is here placed in Luciobarbus following the IUCN, but that genus is very closely related to the other typical barbels and perhaps better considered a mere subgenus of Barbus.

Around 1998, it was introduced to some rivers of Tuscany (Italy) and is now well established in the Albegna, Fiora and Ombrone drainage basins.

They migrate upstream to their spawning sites, which are in faster and more shallow stretches of river, where the bottom is made of gravel and rocks.

This species becomes sexually mature at 4 years of age, with a standard length of 15 to 20 cm (5.9 to 7.9 in).

Abundant in its range, the Ebro Barbel not considered a threatened species by the IUCN.