Type locality, Estado do Mato Grosso, Município de Campinápolis, Rio Sucuri, tributary of Rio Culuene, Rio Xingu basin, MZUSP 97741 (holotype of Moenkhausia pirauba, 6.92 cm SL). Known from tributaries in the upper portions of the Rio Xingu basin, from the Rio Von Den Steinen west to the Rio Suiá-Miçú and east in the Mato Grosso State, and the Rio Treze de Maio, tributary of the Rio Curúa, Rio Iriri drainage in Par´a State; also in the Rio Arinos and Rio Teles Pires and its tributaries in the upper Rio Tapajós basin (Ref. 83482). Reported from Machado river basin (Ref. 97589).