Considered a synonym of Dionda melanops Girard, 1856
- Mayden, Richard L & R.H. Matson, D.M. Hillis. 1992. "Speciation in the North American genus Dionda (Teleostei: Cypriniformes)". Systematics, historical ecology, & North American freshwater fishes. 710-746 (ffm00122)
Original description as Dionda couchi:
- Girard, Charles Frederic. 1856. "Researches upon the cyprinoid fishes inhabiting the fresh waters of the United States, west of the Mississippi Valley, from specimens in the museum of the Smithsonian Institution". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 8:165-213 (ffm04542)