胸斧鱼科为辐鳍鱼纲脂鲤目脂鲤亚目的其一科。

胸斧脂鲤科下分3个属，如下：

The freshwater hatchetfishes are a family, Gasteropelecidae, of ray-finned fish. The common hatchetfish is the most popular member among fish keeping hobbyists. The family includes three genera: Carnegiella (four species), Gasteropelecus (three species), and Thoracocharax (two species).