From The Aquarium Wiki |Contents||Top · 0-9 · A B C D E F G H I
J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z| The Characidae or Characins
are a family of freshwater subtropical and tropical fish,
belonging to the Order Characiformes. They originate in the
Americas from southwestern Texas and Mexico through Central and
South America. They vary in length with the smallest growing to
a maximum length of 1.3cm (0.5"). There are over 1,000 currently
recognised species in this family. It is ever-changing however,
see below. To some extent the family has served as a junk-basket
category in the past. More recent revision has moved many former
members of the family into their own related but distinct
families - the Pencilfishes of the genus Nannostomus are a
typical example, having now been moved into the Lebiasinidae,
the assorted predatory characins belonging to Hoplias and
Hoplerythrinus have now been moved into the Erythrinidae, and
the Sabre-Toothed Fishes of the genus Hydrolycus have been moved
into the Cynodontidae. There