The genus Holopristis was first erected by Carl H. Eigenmann in 1903, where it was noted to be related to "Hemigrammus" and distinguished by its dentition. The chosen name was created from (hólos) "entire" and (prístēs) meaning sawyer, the profession (one who saws), not a surname and alludes to the teeth of the new type being present all along the jaw.
The name was then relegated to a synonym of "Hemigrammus" and was only revalidated in 2024, though this new system has yet to find wide acceptance.
Species.
There are nine valid species: