The Hypoptopomatinae are a subfamily of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Loricariidae,[4] composed of 17 genera and approximately 80 species.[5] This subfamily represents about one-tenth of all loricariid species.[6]
It has been divided into two tribes, Hypoptopomatini and Otothyrini.[4] However, in a 2005 analysis, Otothyrini was found to not be monophyletic, with its representatives comprising a paraphyletic group in relation to the tribe Hypoptopomatini.[7] More recent phylogenetic evidence shows that Hypoptopomatini and Otothyrini, while each are monophyletic tribes, do not form a monophyletic subfamily, and therefore should each be recognized as their own individual subfamilies.[8] Problematically, the most recent hypoptopomatine genera, Gymnotocinclus and Rhinolekos, were not classified in either of the tribes.[3][9]
Hypoptopomatinae are distributed east of the Andes in South America from Venezuela to northern Argentina.[5] Most of the hypoptopomatine species are usually found at or near the water surface, typically in close association with riverbank vegetation or some subsurface structure.[11]
^Martins, F.O.; Andrade, B.N.; Rosa, A.C.; Langeani, F. (2014). "Chauliocheilos saxatilis, a new genus and species of Hypoptopomatinae from rio Jequitinhonha basin, with a unique labial appendix (Teleostei: Loricariidae)". Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters. 25 (3): 193–204.(Abstract)
^Reis, R.E., Pereira, E.H.L. & Lehmann A., P. (2012): A New Genus and Species of Hypoptopomatine Catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Upper Rio São Francisco Basin, Brazil. Copeia, 2012 (1): 6–11.