They inhabit flowing sections of rivers, especially clearwater, in the basins of the Amazon (notably Trombetas, Tapajós, Xingu and Tocantins) and Orinoco (notably Ventuari) in Brazil and Venezuela.
Certain species inhabit the flowing parts of rivers, especially those with clear water, found in the Amazon River basin (Trombetas, Tapajós, Xingu, and Tocantins), as well as the Orinoco River basin (Ventuari) in Brazil and Venezuela.