Hypsolebias is a genus of small fish in the family Rivulidae that are endemic the Caatinga, Cerrado and nearby regions in Brazil.

The greatest species richness is in the São Francisco River basin, but there are also species in the Tocantins, Jequitinhonha and Jaguaribe systems, as well as smaller river basins in northeastern Brazil.

[4] The short-lived adults inhabit temporary waters like rain pools, laying their eggs in the bottom.

As their habitat dries up the adults die, but the eggs survive and hatch when the water returns in the next season.

[2][6] Although this split is generally accepted, a genetic study indicates that Hypsolebias is not monophyletic.