| Cynodontidae Temporal range: Miocene - Present |
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|---|---|
| Hydrolycus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Cynodontidae C. H. Eigenmann, 1907 |
| Genera | |
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Subfamily Cynodontinae |
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Cynodontidae fishes (order Characiformes), or dogteeth tetras, are a family of freshwater fishes found in the Neotropics. 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 65 centimetres (26 in). Understanding of the members of subfamily Roestinae are less known, though they only reach up to 20 cm.[1]
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They have a very peculiar shape, and their name derives from their elongated and well-developed canines which they mainly use to eat other fish. Their pectoral fins are also expanded. The maximum length reached is 65 cm.[2]
These fish live in mid to surface waters of rivers, lakes, and flooded forests. Most species of this family originate from the Orinoco and Amazon basin. The range reaches as far south as Paraná-Paraguay and Uruguay basins and also includes Venezuela and Colombia.[1] Fossil species are also known from Argentina, where they are not found now.[1]
Hydrolycus are game fish, having been recently added to the International Game Fish Association in the fly and rod class. Cynodontid fish are also sometimes housed in aquaria.[1]