| Distichodontidae | |
|---|---|
| Distichodus maculatus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Suborder: | Citharinoidei |
| Family: | Distichodontidae |
Distichodontidae is a family of fresh water African fish of the order Characiformes.[1]
There are two evolutionary grades in this family; micropredators (predators of very small organisms) and herbivores have a non-protractile upper jaw and a deep to shallow body, while carnivores have a movable upper jaw and have an elongate body.[1] The fish vary greatly in size between species, with the micropredators being less than 8 centimetres (3.1 in) in length, and the largest carnivores can reach up to 83 centimetres (33 in).[2]
There are seventeen genera including about 90 species:[3]