The Characiformes are an order of ray-finned fish, comprising the characins and their allies. Grouped in eighteen recognized families.
Characiformes are salt intolerant and are strictly fresh water fishes.
Teeth are almost always present and most Characiformes have an adipose fin.
Characiformes
African tetras
Alestidae
- African red eyed tetra, Arnoldichthys spilopterus
- Congo tetra, Phenacogrammus interruptus
- Yellow finned tetra, Alestopetersius caudalis
Characins
Characidae
- Black neon, Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
- Black phantom tetra, Hyphessobrycon megalopterus
- Black widow tetra, Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
- Bleeding heart tetra, Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma
- Blind cave fish, Astyanax jordani
- Blue emperor tetra, Inpaichthys kerri
- Blue tetra, Knodus borki
- Buenos Aires tetra, Hyphessobrycon anisitsi
- Cardinal tetra , Paracheirodon axelrodi
- Diamond Tetra, Moenkhausia pittieri
- Discus tetra, Brachychalcinus orbicularis
- False penguin tetra, Thayeria boehlkei
- Flameback bleeding heart tetra, Hyphessobrycon pyrrhonotus
- Glass bloodfin, Prionobrama filigera
- Glowlight tetra , Hemigrammus erythrozonusa
- Head and tail light tetra, Hemigrammus ocellifer
- Lemon tetra, Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
- Neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi
- Red eyed tetra, Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae
- Red phantom tetra, Hyphessobrycon sweglesi
- Rosy tetra, Hyphessobrycon rosaceus
- Rummy nose tetra, Hemigrammus bleheri
- Serpae tetra, Hyphessobrycon eques
- Silvertip tetra , Hasemania nana
- X ray tetra, Pristella maxillaris
Distichodus
Distichodontidae
Flannel-mouth characiforms
Prochilodontidae
Freshwater hatchetfishes
Gasteropelecidae
Halftooths
Hemiodontidae
Headstanders
Anostomidae
Pencilfishes
Lebiasinidae
Piranhas
Serrasalmidae
- Black pacu, Colossoma macropomum
- Black piranha, Serrasalmus rhombeus
- Gold piranha, Serrasalmus spilopleura
- Red-bellied piranha, Pygocentrus nattereri
- Redhook metynnis, Myloplus rubripinnis
- Silver dollar, Metynnis hypsauchen
