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.
Tetra is the common name of many small freshwater characiform fishes. Tetras come from Africa, Central America, and South America, belonging to the biological family Characidae and to its former subfamilies Alestidae and Lebiasinidae. The Characidae are distinguished from other fish by the presence of a small adipose fin between the dorsal and caudal fins. Many of these, such as the neon tetra, are brightly colored and easy to keep in captivity. Consequently, they are extremely popular for home aquaria.
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.
George Sprague Myers was an American ichthyologist who spent most of his career at Stanford University. He served as the editor of Stanford Ichthyological Bulletin as well as president of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Myers was also head of the Division of Fishes at the United States National Museum, and held a position as an ichthyologist for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. He was also an advisor in fisheries and ichthyology to the Brazilian Government.
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.
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).
Hyphessobrycon bentosi, the Bentos tetra, ornate tetra or candy cane tetra, is a species of characin fish found in sluggish tributaries at the Amazon Basin in Brazil and Peru. Occasionally, it makes its way into the aquarium trade. It has often been confused with the rosy tetra.
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 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.
