characin

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characin

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

characin , common name for members of the Characidae, a large and diverse family comprising 700 species of freshwater fishes. The characins are related to the carp and the catfish. They are found in Africa and in tropical America, especially in the Amazon. Most species are active and predacious. Most notorious are the piranhas, or caribes ( Serrasalmus species), with their powerful jaws and razor-sharp triangular teeth, capable of killing humans and cattle. Various small, colorful characin species, called tetras, are used in aquariums. A small characin found in Mexican streams is interesting for the stages of blindness it exhibits: those living deep in caves are eyeless; those found near the entrance have imperfect eyes; and the specimens living in open water have normal eyes. A cross of a blind with a normal specimen produces offspring with varying degrees of eye degeneracy. Characins are classified in the phylum Chordata , class Osteichthyes, order Cypriniformes.

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characin

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | | © A Dictionary of Zoology 1999, originally published by Oxford University Press 1999. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

characin See CHARACIDAE.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "characin." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 18 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "characin." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (December 18, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-characin.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "characin." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved December 18, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-characin.html

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Characidae

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | | © A Dictionary of Zoology 1999, originally published by Oxford University Press 1999. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Characidae (characin, tetra, piranha; subclass Actinopterygii, order Cypriniformes) A very large family of freshwater fish. Most are small in size and some are very colourful. All have a single dorsal fin on the back, often a small adipose dorsal fin, a forked tail fin, and an anal fin which often is larger than the dorsal fin. Many species are extremely popular aquarium fish. Anoptichthys jordani (blind cavefish) lives in cave waters; its body lacks pigment and its eyes are vestigial. The family also includes the voracious piranhas, powerfully built fish with strong jaws and teeth. Serrasalmus rhombeus (white piranha) can grow to a length of 30 cm and appears to be a good table fish. There are about 500 species, found in Central and S. America and in Africa.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Characidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 18 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "Characidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (December 18, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Characidae.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "Characidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved December 18, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Characidae.html

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Dry-season Breeding of a Characin in a Neotropical Mountain River
Magazine article from: Copeia; 3/21/2008; ; 700+ words ; The annual reproductive cycle of Creagrutus guanes (Teleostei, Characidae) was studied in a tropical mountain river, a type of habitat where reproductive biology of fishes has been scarcely investigated. Analysis was made on adults, 70 males and 135 females, which were captured in 13 monthly
DECLINING FISH POPULATION HAS BROAD ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES ACCORDING TO UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING SCIENTISTS
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 8/11/2006; 700+ words ; ...overfishing of the flannelmouth characin, a migratory species in Rio...overharvesting the smaller flannelmouth characins," says Taylor, a former...migrations of the flannelmouth characin were associated with greater...the declining flannelmouth characin population. He says dams...
Sailing Results Aust C ships
Newspaper article from: AAP Sports News (Australia); 1/5/2000; 609 words ; ...Tas) 1, Epik (B Deed Vic) 2, Bean (A Helmore Vic) 3, Characin III (G Williams NSW) 4, Johnny B Goode (J Pinkerton NSW...Anderson Vic) 6. Ht 8: Fly'n Bry'n 1, Epik 2, Bean 3, Characin III 4, Johnny B Goode 5, Justin Time 6. Overall: Epik 1...
Fossil fishes: So much diversity, so little change
Magazine article from: Natural History; 6/1/1996; ; 700+ words ; ...million years ago. Two groups of teleosts have shown the greatest diversification: ostariophysans, comprising the carps, characins, and catfishes, with about 6,000 species; and acanthomorphs, with more than 15,000 species of perchlike fishes. As...
Freshwater riches of the Amazon
Magazine article from: Natural History; 9/1/2001; ; 700+ words ; ...dispelled by ongoing discoveries. Each year since 1960, more than 35 tropical American species of fishes, including catfishes, characins, electric fishes, killifishes, and cichlids, have been newly described and named. During the past decade the pace has...
The Super Simple Guide to Breeding Freshwater Fishes.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
Newspaper article from: Wisconsin Bookwatch; 2/1/2006; 465 words ; ...more. The species catalogue includes such popular types of fish as livebearers (guppies, etc.), anabantoids, catfish, characins, cichilids, cyprinids, and rainbowfish. Color photographs on every page beautifully illustrate this handy, plain-terms...
ZOO CLUES Can you identi ...
Newspaper article from: The Washington Post; 5/11/2009; 326 words ; ...nationalzoo.si.edu. Have fun, and good luck. And the Winner Is . . . The fish photographed in last Monday's zoo clues was a flagtail characin at the zoo's Amazonia exhibit. It was correctly identified by Stanton Lum of Silver Spring.
Sailing Results Australian C ships
Newspaper article from: AAP Sports News (Australia); 1/1/2000; 332 words ; ...Ere Wiggo Again 1, Justin Time (B Rose Tas) 2, Epik (B Deed Vic) 3, Bean (A Helmore Vic) 4, Johnny B Goode II 5, Characin III (G Williams NSW) 6. Ht 3: Bean 1, Epik 2, Ere Wiggo Again, Vendatta (R Jolly SA) 5, Fish Don't Smoke(P Harris...
DECLINE OF JUST ONE FISH SPECIES CAN DISRUPT AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM, STUDY FINDS
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 8/24/2006; 488 words ; ...important species in a river declined, the ecosystem was seriously changed and other species did not compensate. The flannelmouth characin is a fish that is harvested in South America; it feeds on the organic matter on river bottoms that influences carbon flow...
Hugo's amazing invention will have you turning pages
Newspaper article from: Columbia Daily Tribune; 3/1/2007; ; 700+ words ; ...which is in the shape of an endangered animal. There is a brief description identifying the animal. For instance, the naked characin fish is in the shape of the letter "C." In the lower corner of the page, you'll find the class, habitat, range, threats...

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