Distichodontidae

Distichodontidae
Distichodontidae
Distichodus maculatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Suborder: Citharinoidei
Family: Distichodontidae
Genera

Belonophago
Congocharax
Distichodus
Dundocharax
Eugnathichthys
Hemigrammocharax
Hemistichodus
Ichthyborus
Mesoborus
Microstomatichthyoborus
Nannaethiops
Nannocharax
Neolebias
Paradistichodus
Paraphago
Phago
Xenocharax

Distichodontidae is a family of fresh water African fish of the order Characiformes.[1]

There are two evolutionary grades in this family; micropredators (predators of very small organisms) and herbivores have a non-protractile upper jaw and a deep to shallow body, while carnivores have a movable upper jaw and have an elongate body.[1] The fish vary greatly in size between species, with the micropredators being less than 8 centimetres (3.1 in) in length, and the largest carnivores can reach up to 83 centimetres (33 in).[2]

Genera

There are seventeen genera including about 90 species:[1]

Family Distichodontidae

  • Genus Belonophago (2 species)
  • Genus Congocharax (3 species)
  • Genus Distichodus (23 species)
  • Genus Dundocharax (1 species)
  • Genus Eugnathichthys (2 species)
  • Genus Hemigrammocharax (9 species)
  • Genus Hemistichodus (3 species)
  • Genus Ichthyborus (4 species)
  • Genus Mesoborus (1 species)
  • Genus Microstomatichthyoborus (2 species)
  • Genus Nannaethiops (2 species)
  • Genus Nannocharax (26 species)
  • Genus Neolebias (10 species)
  • Genus Paradistichodus (1 species)
  • Genus Paraphago (1 species)
  • Genus Phago (3 species)
  • Genus Xenocharax (1 species)

References

  1. ^ a b c Nelson, Joseph, S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. ISBN 0471250317. 
  2. ^ Weitzman, S.H. & Vari, R.P. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N.. ed. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 101. ISBN 0-12-547665-5. 


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