Knowra Characiformes Characiformes Characiformes is an order of mostly freshwater ray-finned fishes, including tetras, piranhas, and characins. Its members are especially diverse in tropical waters of Africa and the Americas.
Ostariophysi : Ostariophysi is a major group of teleost fishes that includes carps, catfishes, and characiforms. Characiformes is one of the principal orders within this larger fish group.
Neon tetra : The neon tetra is a small South American freshwater fish known for a bright blue and red stripe. This popular aquarium species is a well-known member of Characiformes.
Siluriformes : Siluriformes is the order of catfishes, a diverse group of mostly freshwater ray-finned fishes. Catfishes share Ostariophysan ancestry with characiforms but form a separate order.
Fish phylogenetics : Fish phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary relationships among fishes using anatomical and molecular evidence. Phylogenetic methods continue to revise relationships among characiform families.
Weberian apparatus : The Weberian apparatus is a chain of small bones that transmits swim-bladder vibrations to the inner ear in some fishes. This ostariophysan feature links hearing anatomy with the swim bladder.
Piranha : Piranhas are South American characiform fishes, several species of which have powerful jaws and specialized teeth. Their reputation and ecology make them the order’s most familiar predatory members.
Cypriniformes : Cypriniformes is an order of freshwater fishes that includes carps, minnows, and loaches. It is another major ostariophysan order, distinct from Characiformes in anatomy and distribution.
Molecular phylogenetics : Molecular phylogenetics infers evolutionary relationships by comparing DNA, RNA, or protein sequences. Genetic data have reshaped hypotheses about characiform evolution and classification.
Adipose fin : An adipose fin is a small, fleshy fin behind the main dorsal fin, present in several fish groups. Many characiforms have this fin, though it is not unique to the order.
Tambaqui : Tambaqui is a large Amazonian characiform fish cultivated for food and valued in regional fisheries. This close relative of piranhas shows the order’s importance as a food resource.
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