title: Alestidae
text: # Alestidae
  
  African tetras (family Alestidae, formerly spelled Alestiidae) are a group of characiform fish exclusively found in Africa. This family contains about 18 genera and 119 species. Among the best known members are the Congo tetra, and African tigerfish.
  
  ## Taxonomy
  
  Taxonomy based on Van der Laan 2017 and Nelson, Grande & Wilson 2016.
  
  * Family Alestiidae Cockerell, 1910
     * Genus †Alestoides Monod & Gaudant, 1998
     * Genus †Arabocharax Micklich & Roscher, 1990
     * Genus †Bunocharax Van Neer, 1994
     * Genus †Eurocharax Gaudant, 1980
     * Genus †Mahengecharax Murray, 2003
     * Genus †Sindacharax Greenwood & Howes, 1975
     * Genus Arnoldichthys G. S. Myers, 1926 [Brycinus macrolepidotus species-group]
     * Genus Brycinus Valenciennes, 1850 [Brycinus macrolepidotus species-group]
     * Subfamily Bryconaethiopinae Hoedeman, 1951
        * Genus Bryconaethiops Günther, 1873
        * Genus Brachyalestes Günther, 1864 [Brycinus nurse species-group]
     * Subfamily Petersiinae Poll, 1967
        * Genus Alestopetersius Hoedeman, 1951 [Duboisialestes Poll 1967]
        * Genus Bathyaethiops Fowler, 1949
        * Genus Brachypetersius Hoedeman, 1956
        * Genus Clupeocharax Pellégrin, 1926
        * Genus Nannopetersius Hoedeman, 1951
        * Genus Petersius Hilgendorf, 1894
        * Genus Phenacogrammus Eigenmann, 1907
        * Genus Tricuspidalestes Poll, 1967
     * Subfamily Alestinae Roberts, 1969
        * Genus Alestes Müller & Troschel, 1844
        * Genus Bryconalestes Hoedeman, 1951 [Brycinus longipinnis species-group]
        * Genus Hemigrammopetersius Pellégrin 1926
        * Genus Hydrocynus Cuvier, 1816
        * Genus Ladigesia Géry, 1968
        * Genus Micralestes Boulenger, 1899
        * Genus Rhabdalestes Hoedeman, 1951
  