Gilbertolus is a small genus of predatory characins grouped, in the atlas, alongside the piranhas and their wider Characiformes relatives. Its 3 species are known from river systems in Colombia and Venezuela, including the Atrato and Maracaibo basins, and share the compressed, silvery body and forward-set, toothy jaw typical of small predatory characins that hunt smaller fish in open water.
Published biology on Gilbertolus is sparse, and none of its species - G. alatus, G. atratoensis or G. maracaiboensis - has an established presence in the aquarium trade; what is known comes mostly from taxonomic descriptions rather than field or husbandry studies. Sizes in the atlas run a narrow range, from about 4.5–5.5 in, and all three species are currently assessed Least Concern, though that likely reflects limited threat data as much as confirmed security.