Alestidae Explained

African tetras (family Alestidae, formerly spelled Alestiidae) are a group of characiform fish found exclusively in Africa.^[1] This family contains about 18 genera and 119 species. Among the best known members are the Congo tetra, and African tigerfish.

Taxonomy

Taxonomy based on Van der Laan 2017^[2] and Nelson, Grande & Wilson 2016.^[3]

Family Alestiidae Cockerell, 1910
- Genus †Alestoides Monod & Gaudant, 1998
- Genus †Arabocharax Micklich & Roscher, 1990
- Genus †Bunocharax Van Neer, 1994
- Genus †Eurocharax Gaudant, 1980
- Genus †Mahengecharax Murray, 2003
- Genus †Sindacharax Greenwood & Howes, 1975
- Genus Arnoldichthys G. S. Myers, 1926 [''Brycinus macrolepidotus'' species-group]
- Genus Brycinus Valenciennes, 1850 [''Brycinus macrolepidotus'' species-group]
- Subfamily Bryconaethiopinae Hoedeman, 1951
  - Genus Bryconaethiops Günther, 1873
  - Genus Brachyalestes Günther, 1864 [''Brycinus nurse'' species-group]
- Subfamily Petersiinae Poll, 1967
  - Genus Alestopetersius Hoedeman, 1951 inc. Duboisialestes Poll 1967
  - Genus Bathyaethiops Fowler, 1949
  - Genus Brachypetersius Hoedeman, 1956
  - Genus Clupeocharax Pellégrin, 1926
  - Genus Nannopetersius Hoedeman, 1951
  - Genus Petersius Hilgendorf, 1894
  - Genus Phenacogrammus Eigenmann, 1907
  - Genus Tricuspidalestes Poll, 1967
- Subfamily Alestinae Roberts, 1969
  - Genus Alestes Müller & Troschel, 1844
  - Genus Bryconalestes Hoedeman, 1951 [''Brycinus longipinnis'' species-group]
  - Genus Hemigrammopetersius Pellégrin 1926
  - Genus Hydrocynus Cuvier, 1816
  - Genus Ladigesia Géry, 1968
  - Genus Micralestes Boulenger, 1899
  - Genus Rhabdalestes Hoedeman, 1951

Notes and References

Nelson, Joseph S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Book: van der Laan, Richard . Freshwater fish list . 997 . PDF . 23rd . 2468-9157 . December 2017.
Book: Nelson, Joseph S. . John Wiley & Sons . Fishes of the World . Terry C. Grande . Mark V. H. Wilson . 9781118342336 . 5th . 2016.