Characidae, the characids or characins is a family of freshwater subtropical and tropical fish, belonging to the order Characiformes. 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 tetras, comprising the very similar genera Hemigrammus and Hyphessobrycon, as well as a few related forms such as the cave and neon tetras. Fish of this family are important as food and also include popular aquarium fish species.
The black neon tetra is a freshwater fish of the characin family (Characidae) of the order Characiformes. It is native to the Paraguay basin of southern Brazil. They are often found in the aquarium trade.
The black phantom tetra, or simply phantom tetra, is a small freshwater fish of the characin family (Characidae) of order Characiformes. It is native to the upper Paraguay basin and upper Madeira basin in Brazil and Bolivia. It is commonly seen in the aquarium trade.
Hyphessobrycon is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Characidae. These species are among the fishes known as tetras. The genus is distributed in the Neotropical realm from southern Mexico to Río de la Plata in Argentina. Many of these species are native to South America; about six species are from Central America and a single species, H. compressus is from southern Mexico.
The Serpae tetra, also known as the Red Minor tetra, Jewel tetra or Callistus tetra, is a species of tetra, a tropical freshwater fish of the characin family of order Characiformes. It is native to the Amazon River drainage in Brazil, Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia and northern Argentina. The fish can be found in slow moving or still backwater including, ponds, small lakes, and streams. In the wild, it forms aggregations around vegetation and tree roots, and thrives when the water temperature is22–27 °C (72–81 °F).
Hyphessobrycon columbianus is a species of Tropical freshwater fish of the characin family. The Colombian tetra is native to the Acandi River near Acandí) in northwestern Colombia. The Colombian tetra's habitat tends to be slow-flowing creeks and tributaries.
The flame tetra, also known as the red tetra or Rio tetra, is a small freshwater fish of the characin family Characidae. This tetra was first introduced as aquarium fish in 1920 by C. Bruening, Hamburg, Germany, and formally described in 1924 by Dr. George S. Myers. Today large numbers are bred in captivity and it is common in the aquarium trade, but the remaining wild population in Southeast Brazil is highly threatened.
Hyphessobrycon sweglesi is a species of tetra that lives in the Orinoco River drainage basin in South America. The species' scientific name used to be Megalamphodus sweglisi and the species' common name is red phantom tetra. It grows up to 4 cm (1.6 in).
The rosy tetra is a small species of Characin from the South American countries of Guyana and Brazil.It is popular in the aquarium trade.
The minor tetra is a small fish from the Essequibo River in Guyana in South America, closely resembling its relative, the serpae tetra, from the Amazon and Paraguay. These two very similar species are separated geographically, so they would not interbreed.
Hyphessobrycon acaciae is a species of South American tetra fish, belonging to the family Characidae.
Hyphessobrycon albolineatum is a South American species of tetra in the family Characidae.
Hyphessobrycon axelrodi is a species of tetra in the family Characidae.
Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus, or Yellow tetra, is a species of fish in the family characidae.
Hyphessobrycon borealis is a species of tetra in the family Characidae.
Hyphessobrycon boulengeri is a species of tetra belonging to the family charicidae. It is native to South America. It inhabits the Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Hyphessobrycon catableptus is a species of South American tetra, belonging to the family Characidae. Hyphessobrycon catableptus is known to live in the Essequibo River Basin, more specifically in the Takutu and Rupununi Rivers. This fish is benthopelagic, meaning that it resides away from the surface of the water.
Hyphessobrycon chocoensis is a species of South American tetra, belonging to the family Characidae. It is pale orange in coloration. It has a very thin and dark midline beginning at the base of the caudal fin and fading back to pale orange before it reaches the gills. It is around 4 centimetres (1.6 in) in length. It is known to inhabit the Telembí River Basin in Colombia. This fish is benthopelagic, meaning that it resides away from the surface of the water.
Hyphessobrycon compressus, the Mayan tetra, is a species of tetra, belonging to the family Characidae. It is the northernmost species in the genus Hyphessobrycon, as well as its type species.
Hyphessobrycon condotensis is a species of South American tetra, belonging to the family Characidae. They are beige in coloration, with a slightly greenish hue. Just behind the gill, they exhibit a faint darker patch, similar in shape to that of the black phantom tetra. They are known to grow up to around 4 centimetres (1.6 in) in length. Their species name, condotensis, is derived from one of the waterways in which they are found, known as the Río Condoto. Hyphessobrycon condotensis is known to live in the San Juan River Basin in Colombia. As a benthopelagic fish, they reside away from the surface of the water.
