Chaetobranchini is a tribe of the subfamily Cichlinae, the American cichlids.

The two recognised genera of the Chaetobranchini have been classified together with Astronotus in the subfamily Astronotinae but the consensus is that this genus forms the monogeneric tribe, the Astronotini, these two each being one of the seven tribes in Cichlinae.

[1] The species in Chaetobranchini grow to lengths of 12–24 centimetres (4.7–9.4 in) in length and have an oval, laterally compressed body with a pointed head.

They have small mouths and teeth, feed on plankton using filaments on their gill arches as a filter.

[2] The chaetobranchins possess a very reduced lower pharyngeal jaw which has elongated lateral processes, a keel and conical teeth.