Clypeobarbus is a genus of small African barbs in the carp family Cyprinidae, split away from the sprawling genus Barbus on the basis of scale and fin characters. The atlas's countries for the genus trace a broad swath of West and Central Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, and the Republic of the Congo, reflecting forest streams and river systems from the Upper Guinea region east into the Congo Basin. Like most barbs, Clypeobarbus species are streamlined, scaled, fin-rayed minnows suited to flowing, often shaded water. The atlas covers 8 species, with adult sizes spanning a wide range, from a few centimeters up to roughly 14 in in the largest recorded member.
Data on Clypeobarbus is sparse outside of taxonomic literature: six of the eight species in the atlas have not yet been formally evaluated for conservation status, one is Data Deficient, and only one has been assessed as Least Concern. None currently carry a CARES designation. In the aquarium trade the genus has a low profile; most Clypeobarbus species are little known outside African ichthyology and are rarely, if ever, offered commercially, though the gorgeous barb (Clypeobarbus bellcrossi) is the species most likely to be recognized by common name. As with many recently split African barb genera, basic natural history for most of its species is still being filled in.