Characidae Latreille, 1825
- Dataset
- English Wikipedia - Species Pages
- Rank
- FAMILY
Classification
- family
- Characidae
Abstract
Characidae, the characids or characins is a family of freshwater subtropical and tropical fish, belonging to the order Characiformes. The name "characins" is the historical one,Characinae, recently narrowly defined, covers only twelve genera and 79 species closely related to Charax (George M.T. Mattox, Monica Toledo-Piza, "Phylogenetic study of the Characinae (Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae)" Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 165.4:809–915, August 2012). but scientists today tend to prefer "characids" to reflect their status as a by and large monophyletic group at family rank. To arrive there, this family has undergone much systematic and taxonomic change. Among those fishes that remain in the Characidae for the time being are the tetras, comprising the very similar genera Hemigrammus and Hyphessobrycon, as well as a few related forms such as the cave and neon tetras. Fish of this family are important as food and also include popular aquarium fish species. These fish vary in length, though many are less than 3 cm. One of the smallest species, Hyphessobrycon roseus, grows to a maximum length of 1.9 cm. These fish inhabit a wide range and a variety of habitats. They originate in the Americas, ranging from southwestern Texas and Mexico through Central and South America.Nelson (2006) Many of these fish come from rivers, but, for example, the blind cave tetra even inhabits caves.
Classification
Phylogeny Aphyocharax anisitsi (Aphyocharacinae)
Brycon hilarii (Bryconinae)
Brachychalcinus orbicularis (Stethaprioninae)
Costello tetra(Hemigrammus hyanuary)
Hyphessobrycon pyrrhonotus
Emperor tetra(Nematobrycon palmeri)
Pygopristis denticulata
Taxonomy The subfamilies and tribes currently recognized by most if not all authors, and their respective genera, are:
Subfamily Spintherobolus clade
Amazonspinther Spintherobolus
Subfamily Stethaprioninae
Tribe Rhoadsiini [Astyanax clade] Astyanacinus Astyanax Carlana Ctenobrycon Inpaichthys Nematobrycon Oligosarcus Parastremma Psellogrammus Rhoadsia Tribe Stygichthyini [Jupiaba clade] Coptobrycon Deuterodon ErythrocharaxNetto-Ferreira, A.L., Birindelli, J.L.O., de Sousa, L.M., Mariguela, T.C. & Oliveira, C. (2013): A New Miniature Characid (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Characidae), with Phylogenetic Position Inferred from Morphological and Molecular Data. PLoS ONE, 8 (1): e52098. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052098 Jupiaba Macropsobrycon Myxiops Parecbasis Probolodus Stygichthys Tribe Pristellini [Hemigrammus clade; Aphyoditini] Aphyodite Atopomesus Axelrodia Brittanichthys Bryconella Hasemania Hemigrammus Hyphessobrycon Moenkhausia Nematocharax Paracheirodon Parapristella Petitella PhycocharaxOhara, W.M., Mirande, J.M. & Lima, F.C.T.d. (2017): Phycocharax rasbora, a new genus and species of Brazilian tetra (Characiformes: Characidae) from Serra do Cachimbo, rio Tapajós basin. PLoS ONE, 12 (2): e0170648. Pristella Thayeria Tribe Stethaprionini Brachychalcinus Gymnocorymbus Orthospinus Poptella Stethaprion Stichonodon Tribe Gymnocharacini Bario Dectobrycon Ectrepopterus Grundulus Gymnocharacinus Gymnotichthys Hollandichthys Pseudochalceus Rachoviscus Schultzites Tribe Scissorini Genycharax Leptobrycon Microschemobrycon Mixobrycon Oligobrycon Oxybrycon Scissor Serrabrycon Thrissobrycon Tucanoichthys Tyttobrycon
Subfamily Stevardiinae
Tribe Eretmobryconini Eretmobrycon Markiana Tribe Xenurobryconini Iotabrycon Ptychocharax Scopaeocharax Tyttocharax Xenurobrycon Tribe Argopleura clade Argopleura Tribe Glandulocaudini Glandulocauda Lophiobrycon Mimagoniates Tribe Stevardiini Chrysobrycon Corynopoma Gephyrocharax Hysteronotus Pseudocorynopoma Pterobrycon Tribe Hemibryconini Acrobrycon Hemibrycon [Boehlkea] Tribe Creagrutini Carlastyanax Creagrutus Tribe Landonini Landonia Tribe Phenacobryconini Phenacobrycon Tribe Trochilocharacini Trochilocharax Tribe Diapomini Attonitus Aulixidens Bryconacidnus Bryconamericus [Hypobrycon] Caiapobrycon Ceratobranchia CyanogasterMattox, G.M.T., Britz, R., Toledo-Piza, M. & Marinho, M.M.F. (2013): Cyanogaster noctivaga, a remarkable new genus and species of miniature fish from the Rio Negro, Amazon basin (Ostariophysi: Characidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 23 (4): 297-318. Diapoma Knodus Lepidocharax Microgenys Monotocheirodon Othonocheirodus Phallobrycon Piabarchus Piabina Planaltina Rhinobrycon Rhinopetitia
Subfamily Characinae
Tribe Protocheirodontini ProtocheirodonVari, R.P., Melo, B.F. & Oliveira, C. (2016): Protocheirodon, a new genus of Characidae (Teleostei: Characiformes) with the redescription of the poorly known Protocheirodon pi. Neotropical Ichthyology, 14 (2): e150154. Tribe Pseudocheirodontini Nanocheirodon Pseudocheirodon Tribe Aphyocharacini Aphyocharacidium Aphyocharax Leptagoniates Paragoniates Phenagoniates Prionobrama Xenagoniates Tribe Cheirodontini Cheirodon Heterocheirodon Prodontocharax Saccoderma Tribe Compsurini Acinocheirodon Compsura CtenocheirodonMalabarba, L.R. & Jerep, F.C. (2012): A New Genus and Species of Cheirodontine Fish from South America (Teleostei: Characidae). Copeia, 2012 (2): 243-250. Holoshesthes [Aphyocheirodon; Cheirodontops] Kolpotocheirodon Odontostilbe Serrapinnus Tribe Exodontini Bryconexodon Exodon Roeboexodon Tribe Tetragonopterinae Tetragonopterus Tribe Characini Acanthocharax Acestrocephalus Charax Cynopotamus Galeocharax Phenacogaster Priocharax Roeboides
Former members The Chalceidae, Iguanodectidae, Bryconidae and Heterocharacinae are the most recent clades to be removed in order to maintain a monophyletic Characidae.
Subfamily Iguanodectinae moved to Iguanodectidae
Bryconops Iguanodectes Piabucus
Subfamily Heterocharacinae moved to Acestrorhynchidae
Gnathocharax Heterocharax Hoplocharax Lonchogenys
Subfamily Bryconinae moved to Bryconidae
Brycon Chilobrycon Henochilus
Subfamily Salmininae moved to Bryconidae
Salminus
Genera incertae sedis
Chalceus moved to Chalceidae
Genera incertae sedis A large number of taxa in this family are incertae sedis. The relationships of many fish in this family – in particular species traditionally placed in the Tetragonopterinae, which had become something of a "wastebin taxon" – are poorly known, a comprehensive phylogenetic study for the entire family is needed. The genera Hyphessobrycon, Astyanax, Hemigrammus, Moenkhausia, and Bryconamericus include the largest number of currently recognized species among characid fishes that are in need of revision;de Lucena (2003) Astyanax and Hyphessobrycon in the usual delimitation are among the largest genera in this family. These genera were originally proposed between 1854 and 1908 and are still more or less defined as by Carl H. Eigenmann in 1917, though diverse species have been added to each genus since that time. The anatomical diversity within each genus, the fact that each of these generic groups at the present time cannot be well-defined, and the high number of species involved are the major reasons for the lack of phylogenetic analyses dealing with the relationships of the species within these generic "groups".
Brycon hilarii (Bryconinae)
Brachychalcinus orbicularis (Stethaprioninae)
Costello tetra(Hemigrammus hyanuary)
Hyphessobrycon pyrrhonotus
Emperor tetra(Nematobrycon palmeri)
Pygopristis denticulata
Taxonomy The subfamilies and tribes currently recognized by most if not all authors, and their respective genera, are:
Subfamily Spintherobolus clade
Amazonspinther Spintherobolus
Subfamily Stethaprioninae
Tribe Rhoadsiini [Astyanax clade] Astyanacinus Astyanax Carlana Ctenobrycon Inpaichthys Nematobrycon Oligosarcus Parastremma Psellogrammus Rhoadsia Tribe Stygichthyini [Jupiaba clade] Coptobrycon Deuterodon ErythrocharaxNetto-Ferreira, A.L., Birindelli, J.L.O., de Sousa, L.M., Mariguela, T.C. & Oliveira, C. (2013): A New Miniature Characid (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Characidae), with Phylogenetic Position Inferred from Morphological and Molecular Data. PLoS ONE, 8 (1): e52098. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052098 Jupiaba Macropsobrycon Myxiops Parecbasis Probolodus Stygichthys Tribe Pristellini [Hemigrammus clade; Aphyoditini] Aphyodite Atopomesus Axelrodia Brittanichthys Bryconella Hasemania Hemigrammus Hyphessobrycon Moenkhausia Nematocharax Paracheirodon Parapristella Petitella PhycocharaxOhara, W.M., Mirande, J.M. & Lima, F.C.T.d. (2017): Phycocharax rasbora, a new genus and species of Brazilian tetra (Characiformes: Characidae) from Serra do Cachimbo, rio Tapajós basin. PLoS ONE, 12 (2): e0170648. Pristella Thayeria Tribe Stethaprionini Brachychalcinus Gymnocorymbus Orthospinus Poptella Stethaprion Stichonodon Tribe Gymnocharacini Bario Dectobrycon Ectrepopterus Grundulus Gymnocharacinus Gymnotichthys Hollandichthys Pseudochalceus Rachoviscus Schultzites Tribe Scissorini Genycharax Leptobrycon Microschemobrycon Mixobrycon Oligobrycon Oxybrycon Scissor Serrabrycon Thrissobrycon Tucanoichthys Tyttobrycon
Subfamily Stevardiinae
Tribe Eretmobryconini Eretmobrycon Markiana Tribe Xenurobryconini Iotabrycon Ptychocharax Scopaeocharax Tyttocharax Xenurobrycon Tribe Argopleura clade Argopleura Tribe Glandulocaudini Glandulocauda Lophiobrycon Mimagoniates Tribe Stevardiini Chrysobrycon Corynopoma Gephyrocharax Hysteronotus Pseudocorynopoma Pterobrycon Tribe Hemibryconini Acrobrycon Hemibrycon [Boehlkea] Tribe Creagrutini Carlastyanax Creagrutus Tribe Landonini Landonia Tribe Phenacobryconini Phenacobrycon Tribe Trochilocharacini Trochilocharax Tribe Diapomini Attonitus Aulixidens Bryconacidnus Bryconamericus [Hypobrycon] Caiapobrycon Ceratobranchia CyanogasterMattox, G.M.T., Britz, R., Toledo-Piza, M. & Marinho, M.M.F. (2013): Cyanogaster noctivaga, a remarkable new genus and species of miniature fish from the Rio Negro, Amazon basin (Ostariophysi: Characidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 23 (4): 297-318. Diapoma Knodus Lepidocharax Microgenys Monotocheirodon Othonocheirodus Phallobrycon Piabarchus Piabina Planaltina Rhinobrycon Rhinopetitia
Subfamily Characinae
Tribe Protocheirodontini ProtocheirodonVari, R.P., Melo, B.F. & Oliveira, C. (2016): Protocheirodon, a new genus of Characidae (Teleostei: Characiformes) with the redescription of the poorly known Protocheirodon pi. Neotropical Ichthyology, 14 (2): e150154. Tribe Pseudocheirodontini Nanocheirodon Pseudocheirodon Tribe Aphyocharacini Aphyocharacidium Aphyocharax Leptagoniates Paragoniates Phenagoniates Prionobrama Xenagoniates Tribe Cheirodontini Cheirodon Heterocheirodon Prodontocharax Saccoderma Tribe Compsurini Acinocheirodon Compsura CtenocheirodonMalabarba, L.R. & Jerep, F.C. (2012): A New Genus and Species of Cheirodontine Fish from South America (Teleostei: Characidae). Copeia, 2012 (2): 243-250. Holoshesthes [Aphyocheirodon; Cheirodontops] Kolpotocheirodon Odontostilbe Serrapinnus Tribe Exodontini Bryconexodon Exodon Roeboexodon Tribe Tetragonopterinae Tetragonopterus Tribe Characini Acanthocharax Acestrocephalus Charax Cynopotamus Galeocharax Phenacogaster Priocharax Roeboides
Former members The Chalceidae, Iguanodectidae, Bryconidae and Heterocharacinae are the most recent clades to be removed in order to maintain a monophyletic Characidae.
Subfamily Iguanodectinae moved to Iguanodectidae
Bryconops Iguanodectes Piabucus
Subfamily Heterocharacinae moved to Acestrorhynchidae
Gnathocharax Heterocharax Hoplocharax Lonchogenys
Subfamily Bryconinae moved to Bryconidae
Brycon Chilobrycon Henochilus
Subfamily Salmininae moved to Bryconidae
Salminus
Genera incertae sedis
Chalceus moved to Chalceidae
Genera incertae sedis A large number of taxa in this family are incertae sedis. The relationships of many fish in this family – in particular species traditionally placed in the Tetragonopterinae, which had become something of a "wastebin taxon" – are poorly known, a comprehensive phylogenetic study for the entire family is needed. The genera Hyphessobrycon, Astyanax, Hemigrammus, Moenkhausia, and Bryconamericus include the largest number of currently recognized species among characid fishes that are in need of revision;de Lucena (2003) Astyanax and Hyphessobrycon in the usual delimitation are among the largest genera in this family. These genera were originally proposed between 1854 and 1908 and are still more or less defined as by Carl H. Eigenmann in 1917, though diverse species have been added to each genus since that time. The anatomical diversity within each genus, the fact that each of these generic groups at the present time cannot be well-defined, and the high number of species involved are the major reasons for the lack of phylogenetic analyses dealing with the relationships of the species within these generic "groups".
Systematics
This family has undergone a large amount of systematic and taxonomic change. 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 species 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. The former subfamily Alestiinae was promoted to family level (Alestiidae) and the subfamilies Crenuchinae and Characidiinae were moved to the family Crenuchidae. The piranhas and relatives (like these disk tetras, Myleus schomburgkii) might be a distinct family.
Other fish families that were formerly classified as members of the Characidae, but which were moved into separate families of their own during recent taxonomic revisions (after 1994) include Acestrorhynchidae, Anostomidae, Chilodontidae, Citharinidae, Ctenoluciidae, Curimatidae, Distichodontidae, Gasteropelecidae, Hemiodontidae, Hepsetidae, Parodontidae, Prochilodontidae, Serrasalmidae, and Triportheidae.Oliveira, C., Avelino, G.S., Abe, K.T., Mariguela, T.C., Benine, R.C., Orti, G., Vari, R.P., & Correa e Castro, R.M. (2011): Phylogenetic relationships within the speciose family Characidae (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Characiformes) based on multilocus analysis and extensive ingroup sampling. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 11: 275. doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-11-275 The larger piranhas were originally classified as belonging to the Characidae, but various revisions place them in their own related family, the Serrasalmidae. This reassignment has yet to enjoy universal acceptance, but is gaining in popularity among taxonomists working with these fishes. Given the current state of flux of the Characidae, a number of other changes will doubtless take place, reassigning once-familiar species to other families. Indeed, the entire phylogeny of the Ostariophysi – fishes possessing a Weberian apparatus – has yet to be settled conclusively. Until that phylogeny is settled, the opportunity for yet more upheavals within the taxonomy of the characoid fishes is considerable.
Other fish families that were formerly classified as members of the Characidae, but which were moved into separate families of their own during recent taxonomic revisions (after 1994) include Acestrorhynchidae, Anostomidae, Chilodontidae, Citharinidae, Ctenoluciidae, Curimatidae, Distichodontidae, Gasteropelecidae, Hemiodontidae, Hepsetidae, Parodontidae, Prochilodontidae, Serrasalmidae, and Triportheidae.Oliveira, C., Avelino, G.S., Abe, K.T., Mariguela, T.C., Benine, R.C., Orti, G., Vari, R.P., & Correa e Castro, R.M. (2011): Phylogenetic relationships within the speciose family Characidae (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Characiformes) based on multilocus analysis and extensive ingroup sampling. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 11: 275. doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-11-275 The larger piranhas were originally classified as belonging to the Characidae, but various revisions place them in their own related family, the Serrasalmidae. This reassignment has yet to enjoy universal acceptance, but is gaining in popularity among taxonomists working with these fishes. Given the current state of flux of the Characidae, a number of other changes will doubtless take place, reassigning once-familiar species to other families. Indeed, the entire phylogeny of the Ostariophysi – fishes possessing a Weberian apparatus – has yet to be settled conclusively. Until that phylogeny is settled, the opportunity for yet more upheavals within the taxonomy of the characoid fishes is considerable.
Name
- Homonyms
- Characidae Latreille, 1825
- Characidae
- Characidae
- Common names
- 10.1016/j.ympev.2015.10.022 in language.