[7] Habitat destruction, by way of land development and aquaculture, is the biggest threat to members of Iguanodectidae, though evaluated species are mostly considered least concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

[2][3] Iguanodectes and Piabucus are largely considered to make up the subfamily Iguanodectinae, with Bryconops becoming its own separate clade, but this is a matter of debate.

Several sources accept the subfamily Iguanodectinae as its own entity,[11][12] but others consider it synonymous with Iguanodectidae[13][14] or simply don't acknowledge it,[15] uniting the genera therein.

[17] The origin of such was not made clear upon its nomination, but is assumed to be from "iguana", the lizard, and "dectes", meaning "bite", in reference to the general dentition's almost lizard-like formation.

[24] One of its congeners, Iguanodectes spilurus, is called the "green line lizard tetra", and is sensitive to poor water conditions.