[2] The generic name, Hemibarbus, is a combination of Ancient Greek hemi, meaning "half", and Barbus, which is another cyprinid genus.

[3] The spotted steed is a ray-finned fish in the family Gobionidae, this is classified within the suborder Cyprinoidei of the order Cypriniformes.

[2] The spotted steed has also been intentionally introduced in certain Asian countries, and so as a result, it can currently also been found in Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia (where it is widely distributed in Lake Buir and Rivers Onon, Kherlen, and Khalkhiin), Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

[2] The spotted steed is an excellent invader due to its rapid growth rate and higher fecundity than native fish species.

Some factors that are known to influence the successful establishment of the spotted steed are its high fecundity and rapid growth rate.