This species was described in 1894 by Selys based on specimens that were collected from Myanmar under the genus Onychogomphus. It was then moved to the Orientogomphus genus by Chao and Xu (1987). The genus Orientogomphus is characterised by small to medium-sized onychogomphines with divergent inferior appendages much shorter, usually about half length of superior appendages, with apical margin shallowly concave; posterior lobe (prepuce) of penile organ absent; superior appendages long, bracket-like in dorsal view, and abruptly curved apically in lateral view, with a minute peg-like process at tip.

Orientogomphus circularis is very closely related to O. minor Laidlaw, 1931 (Wilson 2008). Hence O. minor from Thailand was misidentified as O. circularis by Asahina (1986).

This species was considered a synonym of O. nanius, a species that has been considered an endemic species of Viet Nam, referred to by Martin, 1904 then Do and Dang, 2007. However, this species is only found in northern Myanmar and Lao PDR, and is distinct from the smaller O. minor found from Thailand to Malaysia, and clearly separate from O. nanius that is only known from Viet Nam.

The species is known from very few records with no information on habitat and is assessed as Data Deficient at present. Further survey is required to confirm the species distribution and it should be re-assessed if these data become available.

The species is known from Myanmar (e.g., Williamson 1907 ("north Burma"); Fraser 1924, 1934 ("Maymyo, upper Burma"); Wilson 2008) and Lao PDR (Yokoi 1999).

All Thai specimens, formally attributed to circularis or Onychogomphus sp., belong to Orientogomphus minor (Wilson 2008).

There are no current data available on the population trends or numbers.

No information available on the habitat of this species, but it is likely to breed in forest streams in hill areas.

This species is experiencing habitat loss through human development of the area. The habitat of similar species (e.g. Burmagomphus vermicularis in northern Viet Nam, and possibly O. nanius), is threatened, at least in Viet Nam. Little is know of the species range in Myanmar, where the species has not been recorded for many years.

The priority for this species is for more data; searches should be made in Myanmar, Lao PDR, and adjacent regions.