a natural family of tropical freshwater fishes of Africa and southern and central America.

tropical freshwater fishes of Africa and South America and Central America

The Characidae or Characins are a family of freshwater subtropical and tropical fish, belonging to the Order Characiformes. They originate in the Americas from southwestern Texas and Mexico through Central and South America. They vary in length with the smallest growing to a maximum length of 0.5 in (13 mm).