New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

🌿 Sustainable Seafood ⚡ Omega-3 Rankings 🔬 Mercury Safety 🏆 World Records 🎣 Fishing Licenses
API Docs
Get API Key →
Order Teleostei 🍽️ 209 Edible 🎣 30 Game Fish ⚠️ 12 Venomous

Characiformes

Families
26
Species
2,121
Max Length
133 cm
Max Weight
50.0 kg
Avg Trophic
3.02
Threatened
36

🌐 Geographic Distribution

Brazil
395 spp.
Colombia
276 spp.
Venezuela
251 spp.
Peru
123 spp.
Guyana
107 spp.
Bolivia
90 spp.
Ecuador
87 spp.
Suriname
72 spp.
GF
65 spp.
Argentina
52 spp.

🔬 Ecology & Feeding

omnivore
57%
13
herbivore
22%
5
planktivore
9%
2
filter-feed
4%
1
carnivore
4%
1
piscivore
4%
1
Shallowest
0 m
Deepest
825 m

🌿 Families in Order Characiformes

26 families
Family
Characidae
193 species within order Characiformes.
193 sp. View family
Family
Acestrorhamphidae
569 species within order Characiformes.
569 sp. View family
Family
Bryconidae
47 species within order Characiformes.
47 sp. View family
Family
Triportheidae
22 species within order Characiformes.
22 sp. View family
Family
Serrasalmidae
100 species within order Characiformes.
100 sp. View family
Family
Stevardiidae
296 species within order Characiformes.
296 sp. View family
Family
Anostomidae
155 species within order Characiformes.
155 sp. View family
Family
Alestidae
114 species within order Characiformes.
114 sp. View family
Family
Distichodontidae
110 species within order Characiformes.
110 sp. View family
Family
Crenuchidae
105 species within order Characiformes.
105 sp. View family
Family
Hemiodontidae
31 species within order Characiformes.
31 sp. View family
Family
Iguanodectidae
32 species within order Characiformes.
32 sp. View family
Family
Parodontidae
32 species within order Characiformes.
32 sp. View family
Family
Prochilodontidae
21 species within order Characiformes.
21 sp. View family
Family
Ctenoluciidae
7 species within order Characiformes.
7 sp. View family
Family
Chilodidae
8 species within order Characiformes.
8 sp. View family
Family
Lebiasinidae
82 species within order Characiformes.
82 sp. View family
Family
Curimatidae
112 species within order Characiformes.
112 sp. View family
Family
Acestrorhynchidae
25 species within order Characiformes.
25 sp. View family
Family
Erythrinidae
20 species within order Characiformes.
20 sp. View family
Family
Gasteropelecidae
9 species within order Characiformes.
9 sp. View family
Family
Lepidarchidae
2 species within order Characiformes.
2 sp. View family
Family
Cynodontidae
8 species within order Characiformes.
8 sp. View family
Family
Chalceidae
7 species within order Characiformes.
7 sp. View family
Family
Citharinidae
8 species within order Characiformes.
8 sp. View family
Family
Hepsetidae
6 species within order Characiformes.
6 sp. View family

🌍 Habitat Distribution

💧 Freshwater
2121

🛡️ Conservation Status Distribution

LC
DD
Least Concern 1391
Near Threatened 55
Vulnerable 77
Endangered 59
Critically Endangered 15
Data Deficient 227