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; it is called Gangsir in Indonesia. Placed in the subtribe Brachytrupina, for many years this cricket was included in the African genus Brachytrupes, due to the relative size and shape its head.