Hydrocynus brevis is unplaced species in
the family
Alestidae
subfamily:
Alestinae,
Genus
Hydrocynus 
Infraspecific taxa recognized within :
infraspecific taxa
This species is found in Senegal to Ethiopia, throughout the Nile. In Northeast Africa it is found in the Ghazal and Jebel systems, Sudan, as well as Baro River, Ethiopia. In Western Africa it is known from Chad, Niger/Bénoué, Volta, Senegal and Gambia..