Characins - Part 2 of 9
Two Branches
Two Branches
Since we land folk first began classifying fish, the Characins have undergone numerous classifications and reclassifications. Even experts disagree on how many and which sub-orders truly belong in this family. However it is pretty widely agreed that the family is split into branches - the African and American branches. Among the two branches most experts define fourteen to sixteen sub-orders, of which six are commonly seen in the world of home aquaria.
Those six popularly seen families of Characins include the African Tetras (Alestidae), the American Tetras (Characidae), Hachetfish (Gasteropelecidae), Headstanders (Anostomidae), Pencilfishes (Lebiasinidae), and the Piranhas and Silver dollars (Serrasalmidae). Future features will cover each of these families, along with profiles of popular species within that family.
American Characins:
Anostomidae - Headstanders
Characidae - American Tetras
Characidiidae - Bottom Characins
Ctenoluciidae - Pike Characids
Crenuchidae - Sailfins
Curimatidae - Curmatas
Erythrinidae - Trahiris
Gasteropelecidae - Hachetfish
Hemiodontidae - Hemiodids
Lebiasinidae - Pencilfish
Serrasalmidae - Pacu, Piranha, Silver Dollar
African Characins:
Alestidae - African Tetras
Citharinidae - Citharinids
Distichodontidae - Citharins
Characin features coming up ....
African Tetras
American Tetras
Hachetfish
Headstanders
Pencilfish
Pacus and Silver Dollars
Piranhas
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Characin Photos |
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* Art and photos are the property of Shirlie Sharpe. If you use them please write for permission.
