Characidae

Characidae Temporal range: Upper Miocene – Recent[1]
Red phantom tetras (Hyphessobrycon sweglesi)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Characiformes
Suborder:	Characoidei
Family:	Characidae Latreille, 1825
Subfamilies[1]
Aphyocharacinae Aphyoditeinae Bryconinae Characinae Cheirodontinae Gymnocharacinae Heterocharacinae Iguanodectinae Pristellinae Rhoadsiinae Salmininae Stethaprioninae Stevardiinae Tetragonopterinae and see text

Characidae, the characids or characins, is a family of freshwater subtropical and tropical fish belonging to the order Characiformes. The name "characins" is an historical one,^[2] 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 remaining in the Characidae currently 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 in several regions, and also constitute a large percentage of captive freshwater aquarium fish species.^[3]

These fish vary in length; many are less than 3 cm (1.2 in). One of the smallest species, Hyphessobrycon roseus, grows to a maximum length of 1.9 cm.^[4]

These fish inhabit a wide range and variety of habitats. New World fishes, they originate in the Americas, ranging from southwestern Texas and México through most of Central and South America, including such major waterways as the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers.^[3] Many of these fish come from rivers and tributaries, while the blind cave tetra, for example, inhabits flooded caves.