The Characidae or Characins are a family of freshwater subtropical and tropical fish, belonging to the Order Characiformes. This family has undergone much change. Among those fishes that remain in the Characidae for the time being are the tetras, comprising the very similar genera Hemigrammus and Hyphessobrycon, as well as a few related forms. These include the cave and neon tetras. The piranhas is also currently in this family. Fish of this family are important as food and also include popular aquarium fish species.^[2] The hierarchy of scientific classification In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is a rank, or a taxon in that rank. ... For the village on the Isle of Wight, see Freshwater, Isle of Wight. ... Subtropical (or semitropical) areas are those adjacent to the tropics, usually roughly defined as the ranges 23. ... The tropics are the geographic region of the Earth centered on the equator and limited in latitude by the two tropics: the Tropic of Cancer in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. ... In scientific classification used in biology, the order (Latin: ordo, plural ordines) is a rank between class and family (termed a taxon at that rank). ... Families  Acestrorhynchidae  Anostomidae - Headstanders  Characidae - Characins and tetras  Citharinidae  Ctenoluciidae - Pike-characids  Curimatidae  Erythrinidae - Trahiras  Gasteropelecidae - Freshwater hatchetfishes  Hemiodontidae  Hepsetidae  Lebiasinidae The Characiformes are an order of ray-finned fish, comprising the characins and their allies. ... Genera More than 150[1] Look up tetra in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Species (see text) Hyphessobrycon Meek, 1904, is a genus of freshwater fish in the characin family (family Characidae) of order Characiformes. ... Binomial name Astyanax mexicanus (De Filippi, 1853) The Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus) is a freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) of order Characiformes. ... Binomial name Paracheirodon innesi (Myers, 1936) The neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) is a freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) of order Characiformes. ... For other uses, see Piranha (disambiguation). ... “Aquaria” redirects here. ...

Distribution and habitat

These fish inhabit a wide range and a variety of habitats. They originate in the Americas from southwestern Texas and Mexico through Central and South America.^[2] Many fish come from rivers, but the blind cave tetra even inhabits caves. World map showing the Americas CIA political map of the Americas The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World consisting of the continents of North America[1] and South America with their associated islands and regions. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... For other uses, see Central America (disambiguation). ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Binomial name Astyanax mexicanus (De Filippi, 1853) The Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus) is a freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) of order Characiformes. ... For other uses, see Cave (disambiguation). ...

Physical characteristics

These fish vary in length, though many are less than 3 centimetres (1 in).^[1] The smallest species grows to a maximum length of 13 millimetres (0.5 in).^[1] A centimetre (American spelling centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of length that is equal to one hundredth of a metre, the current SI base unit of length. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ...

Taxonomy

This family has undergone a large amount of change.^[2] 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, the assorted predatory characins belonging to Hoplias and Hoplerythrinus have now been moved into the Erythrinidae, and the Sabre-Toothed Fishes of the genus Hydrolycus have been moved into the Cynodontidae. The subfamily Alestiinae was promoted to family level (Alestiidae) and the subfamilies Crenuchinae and Characidiinae were moved to the family Crenuchidae.^[2] 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, Chilodontidae, Citharinidae, Ctenoluciidae, Curimatidae, Distichodontidae, Gasteropelecidae, Hemiodontidae, Hepsetidae, Parodontidae, and Prochilodontidae.^{[citation needed]} Species Nannostomus anduzei Nannostomus beckfordi (Golden Pencilfish) Nannostomus bifasciatus (Two-Lined Pencilfish) Nannostomus britskii Nannostomus digrammus Nannostomus eques Nannostomus espei (Espeis Pencilfish) Nannostomus harrisoni (Harrisons Pencilfish) Nannostomus limatus Nannostomus marginatus (Dwarf Pencilfish) Nannostomus marilynae Nannostomus minimus Nannostomus mortenthaleri Nannostomus nitidus Nannostomus trifasciatus Nannostomus unifasciatus Nannostomus Günther, 1872... Species Nannostomus anduzei Nannostomus beckfordi (Golden pencilfish) Nannostomus bifasciatus (Two-lined pencilfish) Nannostomus britskii Nannostomus digrammus Nannostomus eques Nannostomus espei (Espeis pencilfish) Nannostomus harrisoni (Harrisons pencilfish) Nannostomus limatus Nannostomus marginatus (Dwarf pencilfish) Nannostomus marilynae Nannostomus minimus Nannostomus mortenthaleri Nannostomus nitidus Nannostomus trifasciatus Nannostomus unifasciatus Nannostomus Günther, 1872... Genera 6, including Nannobrycus Nannostomus Pyrrhulina The Lebiasinidae (order Characiformes), also known as Pencil fish, are a family of freshwater fishes found in South America. ... Genera Erythrinus Hoplerythrinus Hoplias The Erythrinidae, also known as Trahiras, are a family of freshwater fishes found in the rivers of South America. ... Genera Subfamily Cynodontinae  Cynodon  Hydrolycus  Rhaphiodon Subfamily Roestinae  Gilbertolus  Roestes Cynodontidae fishes (order Characiformes), or dogteeth tetras, are a family of freshwater fishes found in the Neotropics. ... Genera Alestes Arnoldichthys Brycinus Hemigrammopetersius Hydrocynus Phenacogrammus African tetras (family Alestiidae) are a group of Characiformes fish exclusively found in Africa. ... Subfamilies and Genera Subfamily Crenuchinae Crenuchus Poecilocharax Subfamily Characidiinae Ammocryptocharax Characidium Elachocharax Geryichthys Klauswitzia Leptocharacidium Melanocharacidium Microcharacidium Odontocharacidium Skiotocharax Crenuchidae is a family of fresh water fish of the order Characiformes. ... Species  A. abbreviatus  A. altus  A. apurensis  A. britskii  A. falcatus - Freshwater barracuda, spotted cachorro  A. falcirostris - Slender freshwater barracuda, big-eyed cachorro  A. grandoculis  A. heterolepis  A. isalineae  A. lacustris  A. maculipinna  A. microlepis  A. minimus  A. nasutus  A. pantaneiro Acestrorhynchus (needle jaw ) is a genus of about 15... Genera Subfamily Anostominae  Abramites - Headstander and highbacked headstander  Anostomoides  Anostomus  Gnathodolus  Laemolyta  Leporellus  Leporinus  Pseudanos  Rhytiodus  Sartor  Schizodon  Synaptolaemus Subfamily Chilodontinae  Caenotropus (also Tylobranchus)  Chilodus The Anostomidae fish family belongs to the Characiformes order, fish in this family are primarily located in South America. ... Genus Caenotropus Chilodus This article is about the vertebrate family of ray-finned fishes. ... Genera Citharinus Citharinops Citharidium Citharinidae is a family of ray-finned fish. ... Genera Boulengerella Ctenolucius Ctenoluciidae, also known as pike-characids, is a small family of freshwater fishes from Central and South America. ... Genera Cyphocharax Steindachnerina Prochilodus Semaprochilodus . ... Genera Belonophago Congocharax Distichodus Dundocharax Eugnathichthys Hemigrammocharax Hemistichodus Ichthyborus Mesoborus Microstomatichthyoborus Nannaethiops Nannocharax Neolebias Paradistichodus Paraphago Phago Xenocharax Distichodontidae is a family of fresh water African fish of the order Characiformes. ... Genera Carnegiella Gasteropelecus Thoracocharax The family Gasteropelecidae consists of the Freshwater Hatchetfish. ... Genera Anodus Argonectes Bivibranchia Hemiodus Micromischodus The Hemidontidae is a small family of ray-finned fishes found South America. ... Binomial name Bloch, 1974 The Hepsetus odoe, also known as the African pike or Kafue pike, is a predatory fish belonging to the Family Hepsetidae. ... Genera Apareiodon Parodon Saccodon Parodontidae is a family of fresh water fish of the order Characiformes. ... Genera Ichthyoelephas Prochilodus Semaprochilodus The Prochilodontidae are a small family of fishes found in South America. ...

The larger piranhas 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 of the Ostariophysans (fishes possessing a Weberian apparatus) has yet to be conclusively settled, and until that phylogeny is settled, the opportunity for yet more upheavals within the taxonomy of the Characoid fishes is considerable. For other uses, see Piranha (disambiguation). ... Phylogenetic groups, or taxa, can be monophyletic, paraphyletic, or polyphyletic. ... Orders Gonorynchiformes Cypriniformes Characiformes Gymnotiformes Siluriformes Ostariophysi is a superorder of fish. ... The Weberian apparatus is a set of bones that transmit vibrations to the inner ear of some fish. ...

A large number of taxa in this family are incertae sedis. The relationships of many fish in this family are poorly known.^[2] A comprehensive phylogenetic study for the entire family is needed.^[1] The genera Hyphessobrycon, Astyanax, Hemigrammus, Moenkhausia, and Bryconamericus include the largest number of currently recognized species among characid fishes that are in need of revision.^[3] Astyanax is the largest genus in the family.^[2] These genera were originally proposed between 1854 and 1908 and are still more or less defined as by Carl H. Eigenmann 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."^[3] A taxon (plural taxa), or taxonomic unit, is a grouping of organisms (named or unnamed). ... Incertae sedis—of uncertain position (seat)—is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. ... Species (see text) Hyphessobrycon Meek, 1904, is a genus of freshwater fish in the characin family (family Characidae) of order Characiformes. ... Species Categories: Animal stubs | Characins ... Species Categories: Animal stubs | Characins ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Carl H. Eigenmann (March 9, 1863 - April 24, 1927) 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. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Characidae". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Apr 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Nelson, Joseph, S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. 
3. ^ ^{a b} de Lucena, Carlos Alberto Santos (2003). "New characid fish, Hyphessobrycon scutulatus, from the rio Teles Pires drainage, upper rio Tapajós system (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Characidae)" (PDF). Neotropical Ichthyology 1 (2): 93-96. 

• Characidae (TSN 162848). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 02 Mar 2007.
• Géry, Jacques, Characoids of the World, ISBN 0-87666-458-3