Acestrorhamphidae
Acestrorhamphidae – American Tetras
The family Acestrorhamphidae was first described in 1907 by the American ichthyologist Carl H. Eigenmann. The family name is derived from the genus Acestrorhamphus, which later became synonymous with Oligosarcus. The meaning of the scientific name is not explicitly stated in the documents.
Subfamilies and Genera
The Acestrorhamphidae family is divided into 15 subfamilies, including one that has not yet been officially described. Below is an overview of the subfamilies and some of their genera:
- Acestrorhamphinae:
- Andromakhe
- Astyanax
- Ctenobrycon
- Oligosarcus
- Psalidodon
- Grundulinae:
- Astyanacinus
- Grundulus
- Hyphessobryconinae:
- Dinotopterygium
- Erythrocharax
- Hyphessobrycon
- Parecbasis
- Phycocharax
- Jupiabinae:
- Jupiaba
- Megalamphodinae:
- Axelrodia
- Brittanichthys
- Makunaima
- Megalamphodus
- Paracheirodon
- Petitella
- Oxybryconinae:
- Oxybrycon
- Pristellinae:
- Hemigrammus
- Gymnocorymbus
- Pristella
- Rhoadsiinae:
- Carlana
- Nematobrycon
- Parastremma
- Pseudochalceus
- Rhoadsia
- Stethaprioninae:
- Brachychalcinus
- Ectrepopterus
- Orthospinus
- Poptella
- Stethaprion
- Stichonodontinae:
- Hasemania
- Moenkhausia
- Nematocharax
- Stichonodon
- Stygichthyinae:
- Coptobrycon
- Deuterodon
- Myxiops
- Stygichthys
- Thayeriinae:
- Bario
- Bryconella
- Hollandichthys
- Holopristis
- Inpaichthys
- Parapristella
- Rachoviscus
- Ramirezella
- Thayeria
- Trochilocharacinae:
- Trochilocharax
- Tyttobryconinae:
- Priocharax
- Tucanoichthys
- Tyttobrycon
- Undescribed subfamily
Description and Ecology
The Acestrorhamphidae family is a highly diverse group of fish, varying in size, shape, and color. They inhabit various freshwater habitats in North and South America, from the southwestern United States to Argentina. Some species have been introduced to other parts of the world. They play an important role in their ecosystems, both as prey and predators.
Taxonomy, Systematics, and Evolution
The Acestrorhamphidae family was previously part of the Characidae family. However, recent phylogenetic studies have shown that the Characidae consists of four genetically distinct clades, leading to its split into four families, including the Acestrorhamphidae in 2024.
Special features
A striking feature of the Acestrorhamphidae is their varied morphology and appearance. Diagnostic characteristics include an interrupted lateral line, three or fewer teeth on the maxilla, and a specific configuration of fin rays in the dorsal fin. In addition, they possess a strikingly large metacentric chromosome pair. Many species within this family are popular aquarium fish, known as tetras.
