Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: ParaHoxozoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Olfactores
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Otomorpha
Subcohors: Ostariophysi
Sectio: Otophysa
Ordo: Characiformes
Familia: Cynodontidae
Genera: Cynodon - Hydrolycus - Rhaphiodon
References
Oliveira, C. et al. 2011: Phylogenetic relationships within the speciose family Characidae (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Characiformes) based on multilocus analysis and extensive ingroup sampling. BMC evolutionary biology 11: 275. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-11-275 Reference page.
Vernacular names
Deutsch: Wolfssalmler
English: Dogtooth tetras
português: Biara, Paraya
ไทย: วงศ์ปลาฟันสุนัข
Cynodontidae, also known as dogtooth characins or vampire tetras, are a family of predatory, characiform freshwater fishes from South America. This group is not very diverse, and includes only five genera and 14 species. Most of what is known about this family is from the members of the subfamily Cynodontinae, which includes the largest species of this family, up to 117 cm (3.84 ft).[1] The members of subfamily Roestinae only reach up to 20 cm (7.9 in).[2] and are less known.
Hydrolycus armatus (top), Rhaphiodon vulpinus (bottom)
Physical characteristics
Cynodontidae are elongated in shape with a silvery or grey colour and an upturned mouth. Some species have a hunchbacked appearance. The family names (both scientific and common) derive from the long and well-developed canines which are used to spear their prey, mainly other fish. Their pectoral fins are also expanded. The maximum length reached is 117 cm (46 in).[1]
Distribution and habitat
These fish live in midlevel to surface waters of rivers, lakes, and flooded forests. Most species of this family originate from the Orinoco and Amazon basins, as well as rivers of the Guianas.[2] One species, Rhaphiodon vulpinus, ranges as far south as the Paraná-Paraguay and Uruguay basins, and Gilbertolus is found in the Atrato, Magdalena and Maracaibo basins.[2] Fossil species are also known from Argentina.[2]
Relationship to humans
Hydrolycus species are game fish, having been recently added to the International Game Fish Association in the fly and rod class. Cynodontid fish are also sometimes kept in aquaria.[2]
See also
List of fish families
References
Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Hydrolycus scomberoides". FishBase. March 2013 version.
Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Cynodontidae". FishBase. May 2007 version.
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