The Poeciliidae are a family of freshwater fishes of the order Cyprinodontiformes, the tooth-carps, and include well-known live-bearing aquarium fish, such as the guppy, molly, platy, and swordtail. The original distribution of the family was the southeastern United States to north of Río de la Plata, Argentina, and Africa, including Madagascar. However, due to release of aquarium specimens and the widespread use of species of the genera Poecilia and Gambusia for mosquito control, poeciliids can today be found in all tropical and subtropical areas of the world. In addition, Poecilia and Gambusia specimens have been identified in hot springs pools as far north as Banff, Alberta.
Astyanax is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Characidae of the order Characiformes. Some of these fish, like many of their relatives, are kept as aquarium pets and known collectively as tetras. With around 150 described species and new ones being described yearly, this genus is among the largest of the entire order; Hyphessobrycon also has more than 145 species and which one is larger at any one time depends on whether more species have been recently described in one or the other. The blind and colorless cave tetra of Mexico is a famous member of the genus, but its taxonomic position is disputed: Some recognize it as part of the Mexican tetra and this is supported by phylogenetic evidence, but others recognize the cave form as a separate species, A. jordani.
Astroblepus is a genus of fish in the family Astroblepidae found in South America and Panama. This genus is the only member of its family. These catfishes are primarily found in torrential streams in the Andean area. Astroblepus pholeter and A. riberae are troglobites adapted to living in subterranean water systems. These species are typically small, less than 10 cm (4 in). The largest species reaches 30 cm (1 ft). These fish have suckermouths like those of loricariids. They have two pairs of barbels, maxillary and nasal. The dorsal fin spine lacks a locking mechanism. These fish also have odontodes, tiny teeth on their skin. All species exhibit a conical, pointy type on their fin rays like that found in other loricarioids; other species also exhibit a blunt type that is only found on their skin.
Sturisoma is a genus of armored catfishes native to Central and South America.
Cathorops is a genus of catfishes in the family Ariidae found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. These species are found in the eastern and western Central and South America in brackish and freshwater habitats. This genus is a strongly supported clade of this family. It consists of a natural group in which the monophyly is well-defined by morphological and molecular evidence and the genus probably includes several unrecognized species from both American coasts.
Brycon is a genus of fish in the family Characidae found in freshwater habitats in Central and South America, ranging from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. Despite not being closely related to true trout, they are sometimes called South American trout. They reach a maximum length of 11.9–79.5 cm (4.7–31.3 in) depending on the species involved. Some species perform seasonal breeding migrations.
Trachelyopterus is a genus of driftwood catfishes
Neoheterandria is a genus of poeciliids native to Panama and Colombia.
Anchoa is a genus of fishes in the family Engraulidae. It currently consists of 35 species.
Gephyrocharax is a genus of characins found in South America and Panama.
Hemibrycon is a genus of characins. They are mainly found in South America, with the single exception being H. dariensis of east Panama.
Hemiodus is a genus of halftooths from South America with the greatest species richness in the Amazon Basin, but also found in the Orinoco, Essequibo, Paraná–Paraguay and Parnaíba River basins. Depending on the species involved, these elongate fish reach a length of 7–30 cm (3–12 in).
Apareiodon is a genus of scrapetooths from South America where they are found as far south as Río de la Plata. There are currently fifteen described species in this genus.
Saccodon is a genus of scrapetooths found in the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena region from Panama to northwestern Peru.
Atherinella is a genus of Neotropical silversides from freshwater, brackish and marine habitats in Mexico, Central America and South America.
Cynodonichthys is a genus of freshwater killifish in the family Rivulidae. They are found in Middle America, ranging from southern Mexico, through Central America, to Colombia. They are non-annual killifish and inhabit small forest streams from the lowlands to an altitude of 1,500 m (4,900 ft).
Hemieleotris is a genus of small fishes in the family Eleotridae native to Central America and Colombia, where they are only found in freshwater habitats.
Gobionellus is a genus of gobies native to fresh, marine and brackish waters along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the Americas.
Arthur Wilbur Henn,, was an American ichthyologist and herpetologist. Henn succeeded Carl H. Eigenmann to the position of Curator of Fishes at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. He was the longest-serving Treasurer in the history of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists from 1931 to 1949. He dedicated much of his life to conversation and public education.
Poeciliinae is a subfamily of killifish from the family Poeciliidae which contains species from the Americas which are collectively known as the livebearers because mant, but not all, of the species within the subfamily are ovoviviparous.
