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 tetra, also known as the black skirt tetra, petticoat tetra, high-fin black skirt tetra, black widow tetra and blackamoor, is a freshwater fish of the characin family (Characidae).
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.
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.
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.
The green-and-rufous kingfisher is a species of "water kingfisher" in subfamily Cerylinae of family Alcedinidae. It is found in the American tropics from Nicaragua to Panama and in every mainland South American country except Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.
The ember tetra is a freshwater fish of the characin family of order Characiformes. It is native to the Araguaia River basin of Brazil and was discovered in 1987 and named in honor of the fish explorer Heiko Bleher's mother.
Carlastyanax aurocaudatus is a small species of freshwater fish in the family Characidae native to the Río Cauca in Colombia. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Carlastyanax, which was named in 1972 specifically for the species by Jacques Géry. Upon description, it was named Astyanax aurocaudatus by Carl H. Eigenmann. There has been debate concerning whether or not the genus should be recognized, but C. aurocaudatus is currently considered a valid species.
Hyphessobrycon acaciae is a species of South American tetra fish, belonging to the family Characidae.
Hyphessobrycon agulha is a species of tetra in the family Characidae. As a freshwater fish, it inhabits the basin of the Madeira River in Brazil along with parts of Peru and Bolivia, and it reaches a maximum length of 4.3 centimetres. Though it is mainly found in the wild, it is occasionally kept by fishkeepers and is sometimes confused with the neon tetra. The fish is primarily an insectivore, though it does eat vegetable matter. It is considered to form a group with other species in Hyphessobrycon as they share a dark stripe running lengthwise.
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 brumado is a species of tetra fish belonging to the family characidae, inhabiting South American river of Rio Brumado and the Rio de Contas drainage.
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 clavatus is a species of South American tetra, belonging to the family Characidae. It is a pale golden green color, with its belly being even paler. It has an orange midlateral line. Below the midlateral line is a thick black stripe that fades around the gills. Their fins have white tips. They are known to reach about 3 centimeters in length. Its species name, clavatus, is derived from the Latin term clava lat, meaning club-shaped. Hyphessobrycon clavatus is known to inhabit the waters of Peru. As a pelagic fish, they swim near the surface of the water. They have seen limited use in the fish trade.
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.
