The Y-striped Leporinus is native to the Meta and Orinoco river systems of Colombia and Venezuela. They eat algae and invertebrates from rocks, logs and leaves, often in a downward "headstander" pose at an angle like other members of the Anostomidae, family. Like the related Striped/Banded Leporinus further down the page, exact colour (white, silver, yellow) and pattern can vary by region.

Like other Leporinus, habitat varies - rivers, streams, floodplain lakes and seasonally flooded forests. Like other Leporinus, their torpedo shape lets them swim against fast currents and jump well out of the water evading predators. The name Y-striped refers to the half-split band at the highest point of the fish's back and the name Leporinus refers to rabbitlike dentition. Fins are white translucent.

The Striped Leporinus, also called the Banded and the Black-banded Leporinus, is native to the Amazon Basin. It is headstander, Anostomidae, family and is sometimes called the Striped or Barred Headstander, but other fish in the family also have these names (eg the Redfin Anostomus and the Marbled Headstander, among others) and most are striped, barred or banded. It often holds stationary, head downward at a 30 degree angle, where it is camouflaged by tree roots. It grows to 20cm long. It eats nuts and seeds and is said even to steal these from a Pacu's mouth.

The three shown immediately above with a variant pattern of stripes and a wide tail are also said to be L. fasciatus. Those further above are the more usual pattern. There is a similar fish in the same region, L. affinis, that is also called the Striped or Banded Leporinus (both in the USA captive trade called Jailbird Leporinus) - see below.

This fish is also called the Striped or Banded Leporinus and is a headstander native to the Amazon Basin. It grows to 30cm long. Affinis and Fasciatus can look similar. It is said that usually the Affinis has one less band, but since the Fasciatus can have between 8 and 12 bands (typically 10) that isn't helpful.

During nest-building, pairs have been observed digging a hole in the sand and then paving it with small stones carried in their mouths before depositing eggs.