According to FishBase, it only includes the genera Monocirrhus and Polycentrus from fresh and brackish water in tropical South America.

[2] Although included in the Asian leaffish family Nandidae by FishBase,[3] most recent authorities place the African Afronandus and Polycentropsis in Polycentridae.

[4] Polycentridae were formerly placed in the order Cichliformes but are now regarded as being incertae sedis in the subseries Ovalentaria in the clade Percomorpha.

These intriguing behaviors have given the family a niche in the aquarium hobby; however, none of these species are easy to maintain in aquariums, requiring very clean, soft, acidic water and copious amounts of live foods.

This Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish) related article is a stub.