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.
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.
Leporinus is a genus of fish in the family Anostomidae native to South America. The fossil species Leporinus scalabrinii, known from the late Miocene of Entre Ríos in Argentina, has only recently been added to this genus after being misidentified as a species of primate under the name Arrhinolemur scalabrinii for over 100 years.
Glandulocaudinae are a subfamily of tropical freshwater characin fish from Central and South America. In all species of this subfamily, a gland on their caudal fin is found almost exclusively in the males, which allows the release and pumping of pheromones; also, members of this subfamily have complex courtship behaviors which lead to insemination. The ecology and life history of these fish is complex yet little studied. Glandulocaudines are important as food fish for larger fish important for commercial and subsistence reasons.
Moenkhausia is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Characidae native to tropical and subtropical South America. These are medium-sized tetras where the largest species only reach around 12 cm (4.7 in).
Bryconamericus is a genus of characins found in Central and South America.
Diapoma is a genus of characins from tropical South America.
Hemibrycon is a genus of characins. They are mainly found in South America, Trinidad in the Caribbean), and H. dariensis of east Panama.
Hemigrammus is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Characidae native to South America and commonly seen in the aquarium trade. These are medium-small tetras where the largest species reach up to around 11 cm (4.3 in).
Jupiaba is a genus of characins from South America. with 29 currently described species:
Knodus is a genus of characins, small freshwater fish from South America.
Phenacogaster is a genus of characins from South America, with 20 currently described species:
Pseudocorynopoma is a genus of characins from tropical South America.
Serrapinnus is a genus of characins from tropical South America.
Spintherobolus is a genus of characins that are endemic to river basins in southern and southeastern Brazil from Santa Catarina to Rio de Janeiro. All four species in the genus are considered threatened by Brazil's Ministry of the Environment. They are small fish, up to 6.1 cm (2.4 in) in standard length.
Characidium is a genus of fish in the family Crenuchidae. They are mainly found in South America, but C. marshi is from Panama. They are small, slender fish that live on the bottom in flowing fresh waters and feed on small animals such as insects.
Pyrrhulina is a genus of freshwater fishes found in tropical South America. Several of these species are popular aquarium fish.
Stanley Howard Weitzman was a Research Scientist Emeritus at Division of Fishes, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
Iguanodectidae is a family of freshwater fish in the order Characiformes that lives in South America. It is home to the subfamily Iguanodectinae and the monotypic Bryconops clade. Several species in the family, such as the green line lizard tetra, the tailspot tetra, and the orangefin tetra, are sometimes taken as aquarium fish.
