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, 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.
