Alestidae

African tetras (family Alestidae, formerly spelled Alestiidae) are a group of characiform fish found exclusively in Africa. This family contains about 18 genera and 119 species. Among the best known members are the Congo tetra and African tigerfish; both are kept in aquaria, and tigerfish are utilized for food and as gamefish.

Hydrocynus is a genus of Characin fish in the family Alestidae commonly called "tigerfish," native to Africa. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek ὕδωρ ("water") + κύων ("dog"). The genus contains five species, all commonly known as "African tigerfish" for their fierce predatory behaviour and other characteristics that make them excellent game fish. Hydrocynus are normally piscivorous, but H. vittatus is proven to prey on birds in flight.

Alestes is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Alestidae, known as the "African Characidae" as they are found exclusively on that continent. As suggested by that name, they Alestidae was formerly included in Characidae. Myletes was a synonym of Alestes, which was used for various South American serrasalmids too but this name was suppressed by Opinion 1813 of the ICZN.

Phenacogrammus is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Alestidae, the African tetras. These fishes are found in Western and Central Africa.

Micralestes is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Alestidae, the African tetras. These fishes are found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Rhabdalestes is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Alestidae, the African tetras. These fishes are found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Bryconaethiops is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Alestidae, the African tetras. The fishes in this genus are found in Western and Central Africa.

species of fish

Alestopetersius is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Alestidae, the African tetras. These fishes found mostly in Congo River Basin in Middle Africa with one species, A. smykalai, from the lower Niger River in Nigeria.

Hemigrammopetersius is a genus of ray-finned fish in the family Alestiidae, the African tetras. The fishes in this genus are found in West Central Africa.

Nannopetersius is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Alestidae, the African tetras. These fishes are found in West Central Africa.

Bathyaethiops is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Alestidae, the African tetras. The fishes in this genus are found in Cameroon, Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Brachypetersius is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Alestidae, the African tetras. The fishes in this genus are found in Middle Africa.

Ladigesia is monospecific genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Alestidae, the African tetras. The only species in the genus is Ladigesia roloffi, the Sierra Leone dwarf characin, is a species that is found in Sierra Leone and Liberia, Africa. The fish was named in honor of German aquarist Erhard Roloff (1903–1980), who collected the type specimen. They are a social species generally living in schools at mid depths and surface level fresh water. It lives for five years. Ninety-seven percent of their natural habitat has been lost.

Petersius is monospecific genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Alestidae, the African tetras. The only species in the genus is Petersius conserialis. It is endemic to the Rufiji and Ruvu Rivers in Tanzania. Its natural habitat is rivers.

Tricuspidalestes is monospecific genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Alestidae, the African tetras. The only species in the genus is Tricuspidalestes caeruleus, a species that is endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Clupeocharax is a monospecific genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Alestidae, the African tetras. The only species in the genus is Clupeocharax schoutedeni a fish that is endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo.