Ichthyborus is a genus of African characiform fishes (family Distichodontidae) from West and Central Africa, recorded in the atlas from Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Liberia and the Republic of the Congo. The genus belongs to a distichodontid lineage built for an unusual predatory niche: rather than swallowing whole prey, these fish specialise in attacking the fins and scales of other fish, using an elongated, pike-like body and a mouth shaped for quick nipping strikes. The atlas covers 4 species, from about 7–10 in, including Ichthyborus ornatus, the ornate fin nipper, and Ichthyborus quadrilineatus, the four-lined ichthyborus — names that reflect this fin-eating habit directly.
Ichthyborus is a niche, specialist-only presence in the aquarium hobby, kept mainly by predatory-fish enthusiasts who understand that its natural diet targets the fins and scales of tankmates rather than typical prepared or feeder foods, making it unsuitable for a standard community setup. It is best housed alone or with robust, fast-swimming fish able to avoid its attacks, in a large, well-covered tank that matches its size and predatory nature. Conservation status is mostly favourable — the atlas tally runs three Least Concern to one Vulnerable — with that Vulnerable listing worth noting as a sign of localised pressure somewhere within the genus's African range.