The Prochilodontidae, or flannel-mouthed characins, are a small family of freshwater fishes found primarily in the northern half of

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

, south to

Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to th ...

and northern

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

. This family is closely related to the Curimatidae, and in the past they were included in

Characidae Characidae, the characids or characins is a family of freshwater subtropical and tropical fish, belonging to the order Characiformes. The name "characins" is the historical one, but scientists today tend to prefer "characids" to reflect their st ...

. These fish have fleshy lips with rows of small teeth; their lips are able to be extended into a sucking disc. The largest species reach up to in length, and live in huge schools, making them a popular food fish. They travel upriver to spawn, and make audible grunting noises that have been described as resembling the sound of a motorbike.

Species

The family has around 21 species in three genera: *'' Ichthyoelephas'' ** ''

Ichthyoelephas humeralis ''Ichthyoelephas'' is a genus of South American freshwater fish from the family Prochilodontidae. There are two species in the genus: ''I. humeralis'' reaches a length of at least and is found in the Santiago River (Ecuador), Santiago and Guaya ...

'' ** ''

Ichthyoelephas longirostris ''Ichthyoelephas'' is a genus of South American freshwater fish from the family Prochilodontidae. There are two species in the genus: ''I. humeralis'' reaches a length of at least and is found in the Santiago River (Ecuador), Santiago and Guaya ...

'' *'' Prochilodus'' ** '' Prochilodus argenteus'' ** '' Prochilodus brevis'' - Brazilian bocachico ** '' Prochilodus britskii'' ** ''

Prochilodus costatus ''Prochilodus'' is a genus of freshwater fish from the family Prochilodontidae. This family include two other genera, ''Ichthyoelephas'' and ''Semaprochilodus'', which have been included in ''Prochilodus'' instead. The greatest species richness o ...

'' ** ''

Prochilodus hartii ''Prochilodus'' is a genus of freshwater fish from the family Prochilodontidae. This family include two other genera, ''Ichthyoelephas'' and ''Semaprochilodus'', which have been included in ''Prochilodus'' instead. The greatest species richness o ...

'' ** ''

Prochilodus lacustris ''Prochilodus'' is a genus of freshwater fish from the family Prochilodontidae. This family include two other genera, ''Ichthyoelephas'' and ''Semaprochilodus'', which have been included in ''Prochilodus'' instead. The greatest species richness o ...

'' ** '' Prochilodus lineatus'' - streaked prochilod ** ''

Prochilodus magdalenae ''Prochilodus magdalenae'' is a tropical prochilodontid freshwater fish from Colombia. It is found in the Atrato, Sinú, Cauca and Magdalena Rivers. It has been measured to reach in standard length and in weight. They have a growing role in ...

'' ** ''

Prochilodus mariae ''Prochilodus'' is a genus of freshwater fish from the family Prochilodontidae. This family include two other genera, ''Ichthyoelephas'' and ''Semaprochilodus'', which have been included in ''Prochilodus'' instead. The greatest species richness o ...

'' ** '' Prochilodus nigricans'' - black prochilodus ** ''

Prochilodus reticulatus ''Prochilodus'' is a genus of freshwater fish from the family Prochilodontidae. This family include two other genera, ''Ichthyoelephas'' and ''Semaprochilodus'', which have been included in ''Prochilodus'' instead. The greatest species richness o ...

'' - Colombian bocachico ** '' Prochilodus rubrotaeniatus'' ** ''

Prochilodus vimboides ''Prochilodus'' is a genus of freshwater fish from the family Prochilodontidae. This family include two other genera, ''Ichthyoelephas'' and ''Semaprochilodus'', which have been included in ''Prochilodus'' instead. The greatest species richness o ...

'' *'' Semaprochilodus'' ** ''

Semaprochilodus brama ''Semaprochilodus'' is a genus of South American freshwater fish in the family Prochilodontidae. They have sometimes been included in the genus ''Prochilodus'' instead. Of the six species, three are from the Amazon Basin, two from the Orinoco Ba ...

'' ** ''

Semaprochilodus insignis The kissing prochilodus or flag-tailed prochilodus (''Semaprochilodus insignis'') is a species of South American freshwater fish in the family Prochilodontidae. It is native to central and western parts of the Amazon basin. It is migratory, mo ...

'' ** ''

Semaprochilodus kneri ''Semaprochilodus'' is a genus of South American freshwater fish in the family Prochilodontidae. They have sometimes been included in the genus ''Prochilodus'' instead. Of the six species, three are from the Amazon Basin, two from the Orinoco Ba ...

'' ** ''

Semaprochilodus laticeps ''Semaprochilodus'' is a genus of South American freshwater fish in the family Prochilodontidae. They have sometimes been included in the genus ''Prochilodus'' instead. Of the six species, three are from the Amazon Basin, two from the Orinoco Ba ...

'' ** ''

Semaprochilodus taeniurus ''Semaprochilodus'' is a genus of South American freshwater fish in the family Prochilodontidae. They have sometimes been included in the genus ''Prochilodus'' instead. Of the six species, three are from the Amazon Basin, two from the Orinoco Ba ...

'' - silver prochilodus ** ''

Semaprochilodus varii ''Semaprochilodus'' is a genus of South American freshwater fish in the family Prochilodontidae. They have sometimes been included in the genus ''Prochilodus'' instead. Of the six species, three are from the Amazon Basin, two from the Orinoco Ba ...

References

Ray-finned fish families {{Characiformes-stub