Tarbinskiellus portentosus is the type species of cricket in its Asian genus, which belongs to the tribe Gryllini.

This species has been recorded from India, China, Indochina and Malesia;[5] it is called Gangsir in Indonesia.

Placed in the subtribe Brachytrupina, for many years this cricket was included in the African genus Brachytrupes,[4] due to the relative size and shape its head.