Characidae
Encyclopedia
The Characidae, characids or characins are a family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 of freshwater
Fresh Water
Fresh Water is the debut album by Australian rock and blues singer Alison McCallum, released in 1972. Rare for an Australian artist at the time, it came in a gatefold sleeve...

 subtropical and tropical fish, belonging to the order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...

 Characiformes
Characiformes
The Characiformes are an order of ray-finned fish, comprising the characins and their allies. Grouped in 18 recognized families, there are a few thousand different species, including the well-known piranha and tetras.-Taxonomy:...

. The name "characins" is the historical one, but scientists today tend to prefer "characids" to reflect their status as a by and large monophyletic group at family rank. To arrive there, this family has undergone much systematic and taxonomic change. Among those fishes that remain in the Characidae for the time being are the tetra
Tetra
thumb|right|250px|Pristella tetra — [[Pristella maxillaris]].thumb|right|250px|Golden Pristella tetra, a [[morph |morph]] of [[Pristella maxillaris]].thumb|right|250px|[[Silvertip tetra]] — Hasemania nana....

s, comprising the very similar genera Hemigrammus
Hemigrammus
Hemigrammus is a genus of characins from South America with one species also occurring in Central America. There are currently 54 described species in this genus. Many of these species are popular aquarium fish.-Species:...

and Hyphessobrycon
Hyphessobrycon
Hyphessobrycon is a genus of freshwater fish in the characin family of order Characiformes. The Hyphessobrycon species are among the fishes known as tetras. All species of this genus are native to the Neotropic ecozone in South America.-Taxonomy:This large genus of characins includes over 100...

, as well as a few related forms such as the cave and neon
Neon tetra
The neon tetra is a freshwater fish of the characin family of order Characiformes. The type species of its genus, it is native to blackwater or clearwater streams in southeastern Colombia, eastern Peru, and western Brazil, including the tributaries of the Solimões where the water is between...

 tetras. Fish of this family are important as food and also include popular aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...

 fish species.

These fish vary in length, though many are less than 3 centimetres (1 in). The smallest species grows to a maximum length of 13 millimetres (0.5 in).

These fish inhabit a wide range and a variety of habitats. They originate in the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...

, ranging from southwestern Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

 and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

 through Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...

 and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

. Many of these fish come from rivers, but for example the blind cave tetra even inhabits cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...

s.

Systematics

This family has undergone a large amount of systematic and taxonomic change. More recent revision has moved many former members of the family into their own related but distinct families - the pencilfishes of the genus Nannostomus are a typical example, having now been moved into the Lebiasinidae
Lebiasinidae
The Lebiasinidae , are a family of freshwater fishes found in Costa Rica, Panama, and South America. They are usually small and are known as ornamental fishes in aquaria, including popular fishes such as the pencil fish and splashing tetra.Lebiasinids are small, cylindrical fish, ranging from to ...

, the assorted predatory species belonging to Hoplias and Hoplerythrinus have now been moved into the Erythrinidae
Erythrinidae
The Erythrinidae are a family of freshwater fish found in rivers from Costa Rica south as far as Argentina. They are common and are usually caught with hooks by fishermen, partially because of their voracious behaviour....

, and the sabre-toothed fishes of the genus Hydrolycus have been moved into the Cynodontidae
Cynodontidae
Cynodontidae fishes , or dogteeth tetras, are a family of freshwater fishes found in the Neotropics. This group is not very diverse, and includes only five genera and 14 species. Most of what is known about this family is from the members of the subfamily Cynodontinae, which includes the largest...

. The formner subfamily Alestiinae was promoted to family level (Alestiidae
Alestiidae
African tetras are a group of Characiformes fish exclusively found in Africa. This family contains about 18 genera and 110 species....

) and the subfamilies Crenuchinae and Characidiinae were moved to the family Crenuchidae
Crenuchidae
Crenuchidae is a family of fresh water fish of the order Characiformes. There are twelve genera including about 74 species, though there are several undescribed species...

.
Other fish families that were formerly classified as members of the Characidae, but which were moved into separate families of their own during recent taxonomic revisions (post-1994) include Acestrorhynchidae, Anostomidae
Anostomidae
The Anostomidae are a family of ray-finned fishes that belong to the order Characiformes. Closely related to the Chilodontidae and formerly included with them, the Anostomidae contain over 140 described species...

, Chilodontidae, Citharinidae
Citharinidae
Citharinidae is a small family of characiform fish. They are fresh-water fish native to Africa, and are sufficiently abundant to be a significant food fish.They are deep-bodied, silvery fish, measuring up to in length and weighing up to...

, Ctenoluciidae
Ctenoluciidae
Ctenoluciidae , also known as pike-characins, is a small family of freshwater fishes from Panama and South America.They have elongate, pike-like bodies, and several sharp and conical teeth...

, Curimatidae
Curimatidae
Curimatidae is a family of freshwater fishes, known as the toothless characins of the order Characiformes. They originate from southern Costa Rica to northern Argentina. The family has around 95 species, many of them frequently exploited for human consumption...

, Distichodontidae
Distichodontidae
Distichodontidae is a family of fresh water African fish of the order Characiformes.There are two evolutionary grades in this family; micropredators and herbivores have a non-protractile upper jaw and a deep to shallow body, while carnivores have a movable upper jaw and have an elongate body...

, Gasteropelecidae, Hemiodontidae
Hemiodontidae
The Hemidontidae is a small family of freshwater characins found in northern South America, south to the Paraná-Paraguay Basin. The larger species are popular food fish....

, Hepsetidae, Parodontidae
Parodontidae
Parodontidae is a family of fresh water fish of the order Characiformes. There are three genera including about 21 species, though there are several undescribed species. These fish are generally benthic and live in mountain streams of eastern Panama and South America It was formerly considered a...

, and Prochilodontidae
Prochilodontidae
The Prochilodontidae, or flannel-mouthed characins, are a small family of fishes found primarily in the northern half of South America, south to Paraguay and northern Argentina...

.

The larger piranha
Piranha
A piranha or piraña is a member of family Characidae in order Characiformes, an omnivorous freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Venezuela, they are called caribes...

s were originally classified as belonging to the Characidae, but various revisions place them in their own related family, the Serrasalmidae. This reassignment has yet to enjoy universal acceptance, but is gaining in popularity among taxonomists working with these fishes. Given the current state of flux of the Characidae, a number of other changes will doubtless take place, reassigning once-familiar species to other families. Indeed, the entire phylogeny
Phylogenetics
In biology, phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary relatedness among groups of organisms , which is discovered through molecular sequencing data and morphological data matrices...

 of the Ostariophysi
Ostariophysi
Ostariophysi is the second-largest superorder of fish. Members of this superorder are called ostariophysians. This diverse group contains almost 8,000 species, about 28% of known fish species in the world and 68% of freshwater species, and are present on all major continents except Antarctica...

 - fishes possessing a Weberian apparatus
Weberian apparatus
The Weberian apparatus is an anatomical structure that connects the swim bladder to the auditory system in fishes belonging to the Superorder Ostariophysi. When it is fully developed in adult fish, the elements of the apparatus are sometimes collectively referred to as the Weberian ossicles...

 - has yet to be conclusively settled. Until that phylogeny is settled, the opportunity for yet more upheavals within the taxonomy of the characoid fishes is considerable.

Subfamilies & Genera

The subfamilies currently recognized by most if not all authors, and some of their genera, are:

Subfamily Gymnocharacinae
  • Coptobrycon
  • Grundulus
    Grundulus
    Grundulus is a genus of characins found in northern South America. There are currently three described species.-Species:* Grundulus bogotensis * Grundulus cochae Román-Valencia, Paepke & Pantoja, 2003...

  • Gymnocharacinus
  • Nematobrycon
    Nematobrycon
    Nematobrycon is a genus of characins endemic to Colombia. There are two described species in this genus, both of which are very popular aquarium fish.- Species :* Nematobrycon lacortei Weitzman & Fink, 1971...


Subfamily Heterocharacinae
  • Gnathocharax
  • Heterocharax
    Heterocharax
    Heterocharax is a genus of characins from South America. There are currently three described species.-Species:* Heterocharax leptogrammus Toledo-Piza, 2000* Heterocharax macrolepis C. H. Eigenmann, 1912...

  • Hoplocharax
  • Lonchogenys

Subfamily Iguanodectinae
  • Iguanodectes
    Iguanodectes
    Iguanodectes is a genus of characin found in tropical South America. There are currently eight described species in this genus.-Species:* Iguanodectes adujai Géry, 1970* Iguanodectes geisleri Géry, 1970* Iguanodectes gracilis Géry, 1993...

  • Piabucus
    Piabucus
    Piabucus is a genus of characins found in South America. There are currently three described species in this genus.-Species:* Piabucus caudomaculatus Vari, 1977* Piabucus dentatus * Piabucus melanostoma Holmberg, 1891...


Subfamily Rhoadsiinae
  • Carlana
  • Nematocharax
  • Parastremma
    Parastremma
    Parastremma is a genus of characins endemic to Colombia. There are currently three species in this genus.-Species:* Parastremma album Dahl, 1960* Parastremma pulchrum Dahl, 1960* Parastremma sadina C. H. Eigenmann, 1912...

  • Rhoadsia

Subfamily Serrasalminae
Serrasalminae
Serrasalminae is a subfamily of fish within the family Characidae. The name means "serrated salmon family", which refers to the serrated keel running along the belly of these fish.-Common names:...

  • Acnodon
    Acnodon
    Acnodon is a genus of characin found in South America. There are currently three described species in this genus.-Species:* Acnodon normani Gosline, 1951 * Acnodon oligacanthus...

  • Catoprion
  • Colossoma
  • Metynnis
    Metynnis
    Metynnis is a genus of characins from South America containing the aquarium species known as the "Silver dollar". There are currently 14 described species in this genus.-Species:* Metynnis altidorsalis C. G. E. Ahl, 1923...

  • Mylesinus
    Mylesinus
    Mylesinus is a genus of characins from tropical South America. There are currently three described species in this genus.-Species:* Mylesinus paraschomburgkii Jégu, dos Santos & E. J. G. Ferreira, 1989...

  • Myleus
    Myleus
    Myleus is a genus of characins from South America. Some of the species in this genus are capable of inflicting severe bites on humans. There are currently 15 described species in this genus.-Species:* Myleus altipinnis...

  • Myloplus
    Myloplus
    Myloplus is a genus of characins from South America. There are currently two species recognized for this genus.-Species:* Myloplus planquettei Jégu, Keith & Le Bail, 2003* Myloplus rubripinnis...

  • Mylossoma
    Mylossoma
    Mylossoma is a genus of characins from tropical South America. There are currently three described species in this genus.-Species:* Mylossoma acanthogaster * Mylossoma aureum...

  • Ossubtus
  • Pristobrycon
    Pristobrycon
    Pristobrycon is a genus of piranhas.Pristobrycon contains five species. However, this genus is not monophyletic. No single morphological feature has been found that completely diagnoses this genus. P...

  • Pygocentrus
    Pygocentrus
    Pygocentrus is a genus of the piranha family Characidae. All are native to tropical South America. It is mainly located in the Amazon, San Francisco and Orinoco rivers. Three especies are fully recognized. P. cariba in the Orinoco; P. nattereri Kner, 1869 in the Amazonas: and P. piraya in the San...

  • Pygopristis
  • Serrasalmus
    Serrasalmus
    The genus Serrasalmus consists of several species of piranhas in family Serrasalmidae of the family Characidae. They are collectively known as pirambebas; the "typical" piranhas like the Piraya Piranha are nowadays placed in Pygocentrus....


Subfamily Stethaprioninae
  • Brachychalcinus
    Brachychalcinus
    Brachychalcinus is a genus of characins found in tropical South America. There are currently five described species.-Species:* Brachychalcinus copei * Brachychalcinus nummus J. E...

  • Gymnocorymbus
    Gymnocorymbus
    Gymnocorymbus is a genus of characins from South America. They are popular in the aquarium trade. There are currently three described species.-Species:* Gymnocorymbus bondi...

  • Orthospinus
  • Poptella
    Poptella
    Poptella is a genus of fish in the characin family found in tropical South America. There are currently four described species.- Species :* Poptella brevispina Reis, 1989* Poptella compressa...

  • Stethaprion


Subfamily Stevardiinae

  • Acrobrycon
    Acrobrycon
    Acrobrycon is a genus of characin found in tropical South America. There are currently two described species in this genus.-Species:* Acrobrycon ipanquianus * Acrobrycon tarijae Fowler, 1940...

  • Argopleura
    Argopleura
    Argopleura is a genus of characin endemic to Colombia. There are currently four described species in this genus.-Species:* Argopleura chocoensis * Argopleura conventus...

  • Attonitus
    Attonitus
    Attonitus is a genus of characin endemic to Peru. There are three described species in this genus.-Species:* Attonitus bounites Vari & H. Ortega, 2000* Attonitus ephimeros Vari & H. Ortega, 2000* Attonitus irisae Vari & H. Ortega, 2000...

  • Aulixidens
  • Boehlkea
  • Bryconacidnus
    Bryconacidnus
    Bryconacidnus is a genus of characins found in tropical South America. There are currently three described species in this genus.-Species:* Bryconacidnus ellisi * Bryconacidnus hemigrammus...

  • Bryconadenos
    Bryconadenos
    Bryconadenos is a genus of characins endemic to Brazil. There are currently two recognized species in this genus.-Species:* Bryconadenos tanaothoros Weitzman, Menezes, Evers & J. R. Burns, 2005...

  • Bryconamericus
    Bryconamericus
    Bryconamericus is a genus of characins found in Central and South America. There are currently 73 recognized species in this genus.-Species:* Bryconamericus agna Azpelicueta & Almirón, 2001* Bryconamericus alfredae C. H. Eigenmann, 1927...

  • Caiapobrycon
  • Ceratobranchia
    Ceratobranchia
    Ceratobranchia is a genus of characins found in tropical South America. There are currently five described species in this genus.-Species:* Ceratobranchia binghami C. H...

  • Corynopoma
  • Creagrutus
    Creagrutus
    Creagrutus is a genus of characins found mostly in South America with one species extending into Panama in Central America...

  • Cyanocharax
    Cyanocharax
    Cyanocharax is a genus of characins from South America. There are currently six described species.-Species:* Cyanocharax alegretensis L. R. Malabarba & Weitzman, 2003* Cyanocharax dicropotamicus L. R. Malabarba & Weitzman, 2003...

  • Diapoma
    Diapoma
    Diapoma is a genus of characins from tropical South America. There are currently four described species in this genus.-Species:* Diapoma pyrrhopteryx Menezes & Weitzman, 2011* Diapoma speculiferum Cope, 1894* Diapoma terofali...


  • Gephyrocharax
    Gephyrocharax
    Gephyrocharax is a genus of characins found in Central and South America. There are currently 12 described species in this genus.-Species:* Gephyrocharax atracaudatus * Gephyrocharax caucanus C. H. Eigenmann, 1912...

  • Glandulocauda
    Glandulocauda
    Glandulocauda is a genus of characins endemic to Brazil. There are currently two described species in this genus.-Species:* Glandulocauda caerulea Menezes & Weitzman, 2009* Glandulocauda melanopleura...

  • Hemibrycon
    Hemibrycon
    Hemibrycon is a genus of characins from Central and South America. There are currently 32 described species in this genus.-Species:* Hemibrycon beni N. E. Pearson, 1924* Hemibrycon boquiae Hemibrycon is a genus of characins from Central and South America. There are currently 32 described species...

  • Hypobrycon
    Hypobrycon
    Hypobrycon is a genus of characin found in the Uruguay River basin in South America. There are three described species in this genus.-Species:* Hypobrycon leptorhynchus J. F. P. da Silva & L. R. Malabarba, 1996...

  • Hysteronotus
  • Iotabrycon
  • Knodus
    Knodus
    Knodus is a genus of characins from South America. There are currently 23 species in this genus.-Species:* Knodus borki Zarske, 2008* Knodus breviceps * Knodus caquetae Fowler, 1945...

  • Landonia
  • Lepidocharax
    Lepidocharax
    Lepidocharax is a genus of characins endemic to Brazil. There are currently two described species in this genus.-Species:* Lepidocharax burnsi K. M. Ferreira, Menezes & Quagio-Grassioto, 2011...

  • Lophiobrycon
  • Microgenys
    Microgenys
    Microgenys is a genus of characins from tropical South America. There are currently three described species in this genus.-Species:* Microgenys lativirgata N. E. Pearson, 1927* Microgenys minuta C. H. Eigenmann, 1913...

  • Mimagoniates
    Mimagoniates
    Mimagoniates is a genus of Stevardiinae, a subfamily of tropical characid fish from Central and South America. Commonly known as croaking tetras or chirping tetras because they can produce sounds, some of these fish were formerly included in Glandulocauda.They have a supplementary breathing organ...

  • Monotocheirodon
  • Nantis
  • Odontostoechus
  • Othonocheirodus


Subfamily Tetragonopterinae
  • Tetragonopterus


Genera incertae sedis

A large number of taxa
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...

 in this family are incertae sedis
Incertae sedis
, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...

. The relationships of many fish in this family – in particular species traditionally placed in the Tetragonopterinae, which had become something of a "wastebin taxon
Wastebin taxon
Wastebasket taxon is a term used in some taxonomic circles to refer to a taxon that has the sole purpose of classifying organisms that do not fit anywhere else. They are typically defined by their lack of one or more distinct character states or by their not belonging to one or more other taxa...

" – are poorly known, a comprehensive phylogenetic study for the entire family is needed. The genera Hyphessobrycon
Hyphessobrycon
Hyphessobrycon is a genus of freshwater fish in the characin family of order Characiformes. The Hyphessobrycon species are among the fishes known as tetras. All species of this genus are native to the Neotropic ecozone in South America.-Taxonomy:This large genus of characins includes over 100...

, Astyanax
Astyanax (fish)
Astyanax is a genus of freshwater fish in the characid family of the order Characiformes. Some of these fish, like many of their relatives, are kept as aquarium pets and known collectively as tetras...

, Hemigrammus
Hemigrammus
Hemigrammus is a genus of characins from South America with one species also occurring in Central America. There are currently 54 described species in this genus. Many of these species are popular aquarium fish.-Species:...

, Moenkhausia
Moenkhausia
Moenkhausia is a genus of tetras in the family Characidae. The diamond tetra and red eye tetra, which are commonly kept in aquaria, are members of this genus.-Species:FishBase lists the following species for the genus:...

, and Bryconamericus
Bryconamericus
Bryconamericus is a genus of characins found in Central and South America. There are currently 73 recognized species in this genus.-Species:* Bryconamericus agna Azpelicueta & Almirón, 2001* Bryconamericus alfredae C. H. Eigenmann, 1927...

include the largest number of currently recognized species
among characid fishes that are in need of revision; Astyanax
Astyanax (fish)
Astyanax is a genus of freshwater fish in the characid family of the order Characiformes. Some of these fish, like many of their relatives, are kept as aquarium pets and known collectively as tetras...

and Hyphessobrycon
Hyphessobrycon
Hyphessobrycon is a genus of freshwater fish in the characin family of order Characiformes. The Hyphessobrycon species are among the fishes known as tetras. All species of this genus are native to the Neotropic ecozone in South America.-Taxonomy:This large genus of characins includes over 100...

in the usual delimitation are among the largest genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 in this family. These genera were originally proposed between 1854 and 1908 and are still more or less defined as by Carl H. Eigenmann
Carl H. Eigenmann
Carl H. Eigenmann was an ichthyologist who, along with his wife Rosa Smith Eigenmann, described many of the fishes of North America and South America for the first time....

in 1917, even though diverse species have been added to each genus since that time. The anatomical diversity within each genus, the fact that each of these generic groups at the present time cannot be well-defined, and the high number of species involved are the major reasons for the lack of phylogenetic analyses dealing with the relationships of the species within these generic "groups".
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