Characidae

260 species in this family

The Characidae family includes 260 species in the guide. Browse them all below with photos, identification details and distribution — and identify them in the field with the Fin's Fish Guide app.

Amazon dogtooth characin

Cynopotamus amazonum

Characidae

Andean mountain tetra

Hemibrycon polyodon

Characidae

Andean tetra

Acrobrycon ipanquianus

Characidae

Anhembi tetra

Piabina anhembi

Characidae

Astyanax lineatus

Astyanax lineatus

Characidae

Atrato tetra

Astyanax atratoensis

Characidae

Aubyne's tetra

Parapristella aubynei

Characidae

Bailey's tetra

Bramocharax baileyi

Characidae

Banded astyanax

Astyanax fasciatus

Characidae

Banded tetra

Hollandichthys multifasciatus

Characidae

Banded tetra

Astyanax aeneus

Characidae

Bandtail tetra

Moenkhausia dichroura

Characidae

Barber's tetra

Mimagoniates barberi

Characidae

Barebacked tetra

Moenkhausia dorsinuda

Characidae

Barred glass tetra

Phenagoniates macrolepis

Characidae

Bass tetra

Hemigrammus rodwayi

Characidae

Bigeye knodus

Knodus megalops

Characidae

Bigeye moenkhausia

Moenkhausia megalops

Characidae

Bigscale tetra

Moenkhausia grandisquamis

Characidae

Billum

Hyphessobrycon compressus

Characidae

Biota tetra

Astyanax biotae

Characidae

Black phantom tetra

Hyphessobrycon megalopterus

Characidae

Black tetra

Gymnocorymbus thayeri

Characidae

Black tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Characidae

Black-flag tetra

Hyphessobrycon rosaceus

Characidae

Blackfin tetra

Markiana nigripinnis

Characidae

Blackline penguinfish

Thayeria boehlkei

Characidae

Blackline tetra

Acinocheirodon melanogramma

Characidae

Bleeding-heart tetra

Hyphessobrycon socolofi

Characidae

Blind cave fish

Astyanax jordani

Characidae

Blind cavefish

Astyanax mexicanus

Characidae

Blood characin

Hyphessobrycon eques

Characidae

Bloodfin tetra

Aphyocharax anisitsi

Characidae

Bloodfin tetra

Aphyocharax alburnus

Characidae

Blue tetra

Mimagoniates microlepis

Characidae

Bluefin tetra

Paragoniates alburnus

Characidae

Boeseman's tetra

Hemigrammus boesemani

Characidae

Bogota tetra

Grundulus bogotensis

Characidae

Bond's tetra

Gymnocorymbus bondi

Characidae

Bonita tetra

Moenkhausia bonita

Characidae

Bramocharax bransfordii

Bramocharax bransfordii

Characidae

Britski's tetra

Planaltina britskii

Characidae

Brown's tetra

Moenkhausia browni

Characidae

Bucktooth tetra

Exodon paradoxus

Characidae

Buenos Aires tetra

Hyphessobrycon anisitsi

Characidae

Cachimbo tetra

Hyphessobrycon cachimbensis

Characidae

Cardinal tetra

Paracheirodon axelrodi

Characidae

Carlana tetra

Carlana eigenmanni

Characidae

Carter's tetra

Phenacogaster carteri

Characidae

Cauca tetra

Astyanax caucanus

Characidae

Cauca tetra

Bryconamericus caucanus

Characidae

Changa's tetra

Creagrutus changae

Characidae

Charax tectifer

Charax tectifer

Characidae

Checkered tetra

Compsura heterura

Characidae

Chilean tetra

Cheirodon pisciculus

Characidae

Cocha bocachico

Grundulus cochae

Characidae

Coffee bean tetra

Hyphessobrycon takasei

Characidae

Colcibolca tetra

Astyanax nasutus

Characidae

Collett's tetra

Moenkhausia collettii

Characidae

Comb tetra

Bryconamericus pectinatus

Characidae

Comma tetra

Moenkhausia comma

Characidae

Condor tetra

Creagrutus kunturus

Characidae

Cope's silver dollar

Brachychalcinus copei

Characidae

Cope's tetra

Moenkhausia copei

Characidae

Copeland's tetra

Hyphessobrycon copelandi

Characidae

Cordoba tetra

Astyanax cordovae

Characidae

Cotinho tetra

Moenkhausia cotinho

Characidae

Creek tetra

Bryconamericus scleroparius

Characidae

Crystal tetra

Roeboides bouchellei

Characidae

Cylinder tetra

Hemigrammus cylindricus

Characidae

Darien mountain tetra

Hemibrycon dariensis

Characidae

Dark tetra

Astyanax mutator

Characidae

Dash-dot tetra

Hemigrammus bellottii

Characidae

Dawn tetra

Hyphessobrycon eos

Characidae

Discus tetra

Brachychalcinus orbicularis

Characidae

Dragonfin tetra

Pseudocorynopoma doriae

Characidae

Dwarf flag tetra

Hyphessobrycon elachys

Characidae

Dwarf glass tetra

Atopomesus pachyodus

Characidae

Dwarf tetra

Xenurobrycon macropus

Characidae

Dwarf tetra

Hemigrammus iota

Characidae

Dwarf tetra

Microschemobrycon guaporensis

Characidae

Ecuadorian tetra

Hyphessobrycon ecuadoriensis

Characidae

Ellis' tetra

Bryconacidnus ellisi

Characidae

Emperor tetra

Bryconamericus emperador

Characidae

Emperor tetra

Nematobrycon palmeri

Characidae

Essequibo gulper characin

Cynopotamus essequibensis

Characidae

Essequibo tetra

Jupiaba essequibensis

Characidae

Estuary tetra

Hyphessobrycon proteus

Characidae

Eugenia tetra

Aulixidens eugeniae

Characidae

Featherfin tetra

Hemigrammus unilineatus

Characidae

Festa's tetra

Astyanax festae

Characidae

Figueiredo's tetra

Creagrutus figueiredoi

Characidae

Finspine tetra

Jupiaba pinnata

Characidae

Fireeye tetra

Moenkhausia pyrophthalma

Characidae

Flag tetra

Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus

Characidae

Flag-tailed tetra

Moenkhausia lepidura

Characidae

Flame tail tetra

Aphyocharax erythrurus

Characidae

Forest tetra

Bryconamericus sylvicola

Characidae

Galusda tetra

Cheirodon galusdai

Characidae

Gamma tetra

Knodus gamma

Characidae

Georgia tetra

Moenkhausia georgiae

Characidae

Giant tetra

Astyanax maximus

Characidae

Glass bloodfin

Prionobrama filigera

Characidae

Glass characin

Saccoderma hastata

Characidae

Glass dogtooth tetra

Galeocharax humeralis

Characidae

Glass headstander

Charax gibbosus

Characidae

Glass headstander

Roeboides descalvadensis

Characidae

Glass headstander

Charax pauciradiatus

Characidae

Glass headstander

Roeboides microlepis

Characidae

Glass headstander

Charax hemigrammus

Characidae

Glass sardine

Roeboides dayi

Characidae

Glass tetra

Charax stenopterus

Characidae

Glass tetra

Moenkhausia oligolepis

Characidae

Glass tetra

Leptagoniates steindachneri

Characidae

Glass tetra

Roeboides occidentalis

Characidae

Glassy tetra

Phenacogaster microstictus

Characidae

Glowlight tetra

Hemigrammus erythrozonus

Characidae

Goldstripe characin

Creagrutus beni

Characidae

Gorgona tetra

Compsura gorgonae

Characidae

Guapore tetra

Astyanax guaporensis

Characidae

Guatemalan glass characin

Roeboides guatemalensis

Characidae

Guianan tetra

Astyanax guianensis

Characidae

Guyana fin-eater tetra

Roeboexodon guyanensis

Characidae

Guyana tetra

Hemigrammus guyanensis

Characidae

Haseman's tetra

Hyphessobrycon hasemani

Characidae

Head-and-taillight tetra

Hemigrammus ocellifer

Characidae

Hemigrammus orthus

Hemigrammus orthus

Characidae

Highland tetra

Creagrutus ouranonastes

Characidae

Hildebrand's tetra

Creagrutus hildebrandi

Characidae

Hook tetra

Hyphessobrycon diancistrus

Characidae

Hyphessobrycon minimus

Hyphessobrycon minimus

Characidae

Hyphessobrycon simulatus

Hyphessobrycon simulatus

Characidae

Iguape tetra

Deuterodon iguape

Characidae

Ihering's tetra

Bryconamericus iheringii

Characidae

Intermediate tetra

Moenkhausia intermedia

Characidae

Jabonero tetra

Hemibrycon jabonero

Characidae

Jupiaba tetra

Jupiaba abramoides

Characidae

Kennedy's tetra

Psellogrammus kennedyi

Characidae

Knodus heteresthes

Knodus heteresthes

Characidae

Krieg's tetra

Serrapinnus kriegi

Characidae

Lange's tetra

Deuterodon langei

Characidae

Largespot tetra

Astyanax orthodus

Characidae

Lasso's tetra

Creagrutus lassoi

Characidae

Lemon tetra

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Characidae

Lesser bloodfin tetra

Aphyocharax pusillus

Characidae

Lesser rhoadsia

Rhoadsia minor

Characidae

Lesser spinybelly tetra

Jupiaba scologaster

Characidae

Lesser tetra

Hyphessobrycon minor

Characidae

Longfin glass tetra

Xenagoniates bondi

Characidae

Longfin silver dollar

Poptella longipinnis

Characidae

Loreto tetra

Hyphessobrycon loretoensis

Characidae

Lowe's tetra

Hyphessobrycon loweae

Characidae

Luetken's tetra

Hyphessobrycon luetkenii

Characidae

Magdalena creagrutus

Creagrutus magdalenae

Characidae

Magdalena tetra

Astyanax scintillans

Characidae

Menezes' tetra

Creagrutus menezesi

Characidae

Merida tetra

Knodus meridae

Characidae

Meunier's tetra

Jupiaba meunieri

Characidae

Mimic tetra

Moenkhausia simulata

Characidae

Moenkhaus's tetra

Knodus moenkhausii

Characidae

Moenkhausia jamesi

Moenkhausia jamesi

Characidae

Moenkhausia tetra

Moenkhausia hemigrammoides

Characidae

Moisa tetra

Moenkhausia moisae

Characidae

Moon tetra

Hemigrammus lunatus

Characidae

Napo tetra

Moenkhausia naponis

Characidae

Necklace tetra

Hyphessobrycon moniliger

Characidae

Negodagua tetra

Hyphessobrycon negodagua

Characidae

Neon tetra

Paracheirodon innesi

Characidae

Nicaragua tetra

Astyanax nicaraguensis

Characidae

Northern knodus

Knodus septentrionalis

Characidae

Panama tetra

Hyphessobrycon panamensis

Characidae

Panama tetra

Astyanax ruberrimus

Characidae

Paraguay silver dollar

Poptella paraguayensis

Characidae

Paraguay tetra

Odontostilbe paraguayensis

Characidae

Paraguay tetra

Aphyocharax dentatus

Characidae

Paraiba tetra

Astyanax paranahybae

Characidae

Parana sabretooth tetra

Oligosarcus paranensis

Characidae

Parecbasis cyclolepis

Parecbasis cyclolepis

Characidae

Pellegrin's tetra

Astyanax pellegrini

Characidae

Penguin tetra

Thayeria ifati

Characidae

Penguin tetra

Thayeria obliqua

Characidae

Peruvian creek tetra

Bryconamericus peruanus

Characidae

Pink tetra

Serrapinnus heterodon

Characidae

Pinktail chalceus

Chalceus macrolepidotus

Characidae

Pinktail chalceus

Chalceus epakros

Characidae

Pinto's sabretooth tetra

Oligosarcus pintoi

Characidae

Planquette's tetra

Creagrutus planquettei

Characidae

Poi tetra

Hypobrycon poi

Characidae

Potaro tetra

Deuterodon potaroensis

Characidae

Pretty tetra

Hemigrammus pulcher

Characidae

Red eye tetra

Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Characidae

Red-base tetra

Hemigrammus stictus

Characidae

Redanal tetra

Hemigrammus analis

Characidae

Redeye silver characin

Stethaprion erythrops

Characidae

Reticulated tetra

Hyphessobrycon reticulatus

Characidae

Rhinobrycon negrensis

Rhinobrycon negrensis

Characidae

Rio Negro tetra

Hyphessobrycon epicharis

Characidae

Rio tetra

Astyanax janeiroensis

Characidae

Roeboides affinis

Roeboides affinis

Characidae

Roeboides myersii

Roeboides myersii

Characidae

Ruby tetra

Markiana geayi

Characidae

Sabretooth characin

Galeocharax gulo

Characidae

Sadina tetra

Parastremma sadina

Characidae

Sardine tetra

Acestrocephalus sardina

Characidae

Saw characin

Stethaprion crenatum

Characidae

Shideler's tetra

Moenkhausia shideleri

Characidae

Short-headed tetra

Knodus breviceps

Characidae

Shortfin tetra

Astyanax brachypterygium

Characidae

Shortmouth pike characin

Oligosarcus brevioris

Characidae

Shortsnout tetra

Bryconamericus brevirostris

Characidae

Siapa tetra

Astyanax siapae

Characidae

Silver dollar tetra

Brachychalcinus nummus

Characidae

Silver dollar tetra

Poptella compressa

Characidae

Silver dollar tetra

Poptella brevispina

Characidae

Silver sabretooth tetra

Cynopotamus argenteus

Characidae

Silver tetra

Piabina argentea

Characidae

Silver tetra

Ctenobrycon hauxwellianus

Characidae

Silver tetra

Tetragonopterus chalceus

Characidae

Silver tetra

Ctenobrycon spilurus

Characidae

Silver tetra

Tetragonopterus argenteus

Characidae

Simus tetra

Bryconamericus simus

Characidae

Slender glass tetra

Microschemobrycon elongatus

Characidae

Slender tetra

Hemigrammus gracilis

Characidae

Smallscale pike characin

Acanthocharax microlepis

Characidae

Smallscale tetra

Astyanax microlepis

Characidae

Smooth tetra

Hemigrammus levis

Characidae

Southern tetra

Hyphessobrycon meridionalis

Characidae

Spinybelly tetra

Jupiaba acanthogaster

Characidae

Spinybelly tetra

Jupiaba mucronata

Characidae

Spotfin tetra

Serrapinnus calliurus

Characidae

Steindachner's tetra

Bario steindachneri

Characidae

Straw tetra

Bryconamericus stramineus

Characidae

Stream glass tetra

Mimagoniates rheocharis

Characidae

Striped mountain tetra

Hemibrycon taeniurus

Characidae

Striped salmon tetra

Pseudochalceus lineatus

Characidae

Surinam tetra

Moenkhausia surinamensis

Characidae

Suriname tetra

Hemibrycon surinamensis

Characidae

Swordtail characin

Corynopoma riisei

Characidae

Terraba tetra

Pseudocheirodon terrabae

Characidae

Tetra

Astyanax scabripinnis

Characidae

Tetra

Astyanax abramis

Characidae

Tetra

Phenacogaster megalostictus

Characidae

Tetra

Odontostilbe pequira

Characidae

Tetra

Serrapinnus piaba

Characidae

Tetra

Astyanax validus

Characidae

Tetra

Creagrutus affinis

Characidae

Tetra

Jupiaba polylepis

Characidae

Threadfin tetra

Nematocharax venustus

Characidae

Toothed mountain tetra

Hemibrycon dentatus

Characidae

Tucan fish

Chalceus erythrurus

Characidae

Twospot astyanax

Astyanax bimaculatus

Characidae

Upper Parana tetra

Astyanax altiparanae

Characidae

Uruguay tetra

Cheirodon interruptus

Characidae

Venezuelan tetra

Astyanax venezuelae

Characidae

Vilma's tetra

Hyphessobrycon vilmae

Characidae

X-ray tetra

Pristella maxillaris

Characidae

Xingu tetra

Macropsobrycon xinguensis

Characidae

Yellow flag tetra

Hyphessobrycon roseus

Characidae

Yellow tetra

Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus

Characidae

Yellowback tetra

Moenkhausia chrysargyrea

Characidae