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