 Characins are most diverse in the Neotropics, where they are found in lakes and rivers throughout most of South and Central America.The red-bellied piranha, a member of the family Serrasalmidae within the Characiformes, is endemic to the Neotropic ecozone.At least 209 species of characins are found in Africa, including the distichodontids, citharinids, alestiids, and hepsetids.