Characin (Characiformes sp)

About Characin (Characiformes sp)

• Kingdom: Animals
• Phylum: Chordates
• Class: Ray-finned Fish
• Order: Characins
• Family: Characins

Characiformes is an order of ray-finned fish, comprising the characins and their allies. Grouped in 18 recognized families, more than 2000 different species are described, including the well-known piranha and tetras. Characins are most diverse in the Neotropics, where they are found in lakes and rivers throughout most of South and Central America. At least 209 species of characins are found in Africa, including the distichodontids, citharinids, alestids, and hepsetids. The rest of the characins originate in the Americas.