The Kneriidae are a small family of freshwater gonorhynchiform fishes native to Africa.

They typically live in fast-flowing highland streams, and are small fish, no more than 15 centimetres (5.9 in) in length. Some species are sexually dimorphic

Sexual dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...

, with the male possessing a rosette on the gill covers that is absent in the females. Other species are neotenic

Neoteny

Neoteny , also called juvenilization , is one of the two ways by which paedomorphism can arise. Paedomorphism is the retention by adults of traits previously seen only in juveniles, and is a subject studied in the field of developmental biology. In neoteny, the physiological development of an...

, retaining larval features into adulthood.

Classification

There are about thirty species in four genera:

Family Kneriidae

• Genus Cromeria
  Cromeria
  Cromeria is a small genus of fish in the Kneriidae family. It contains two described species. Members inhabit fresh waters in Africa. The size of males reaches up to 3.5 cm in the case of Cromeria occidentalis.- Range of members :...
  
  
• Genus Grasseichthys
• Genus Kneria
  Kneria
  Kneria is a genus of small fish in the family Kneriidae. All 13 species in this genus are restricted to Africa.- Species:* Kneria angolensis Steindachner, 1866* Kneria ansorgii...
  
  
• Genus Parakneria
  Parakneria
  Parakneria is a genus of fish in the family Kneriidae. There are 14 species in this genus, all of which are restricted to Africa.- Species :* Parakneria abbreviata * Parakneria cameronensis...