Ancistrini have previously been considered a loricariid
subfamily. However, the subfamily
Hypostominae would be
paraphyletic if Ancistrinae continued to be recognized. To continue recognizing the
monophyly of this group while returning it to Hypostominae, Hypostominae was broken into several tribes.
Pterygoplichthyini is
sister to the tribe Ancistrini, which shares the
derived presence of an evertible patch of plates on the cheek. ==Description==