Vertebrata Cuvier, 1812 - vertebrates see Infraphylum Vertebrata Lamarck, 1801
   Gnathostomata
     Teleostomi Bonaparte, 1836
       Class Osteichthyes Huxley, 1880 [paraphyletic] - bony fishes and tetrapods see Clade Osteichthyes Huxley 1880 [Moore & Near 2020]
         Subclass Actinopterygii Woodward, 1891 - ray-finned fishes see Class Actinopterygii Woodward, 1891
           Infraclass Neopterygii Regan, 1923 see Subclass Neopterygii Regan, 1923
             Division Teleostei Müller, 1845
               Subdivision Euteleostei Greenwood et al., 1966 see Cohort Euteleostei Greenwood et al., 1966
                 Superorder Ostariophysi Sagemehl, 1885
                   Order Characiformes Goodrich, 1909 - characins
                     01 Family Characidae Latreille, 1825 - characids
                     02 Family Erythrinidae Valenciennes, 1847 - trahiras
                     03 Family Xiphostomatidae
                     04 Family Hepsetidae Hubbs, 1939 (1909) - African pikes
                     05 Family Cynodontidae Eigenmann, 1903, nom. protect. - sabertoothed characids
                     06 Family Lebiasinidae Gill, 1889 - lebiasinids
                     07 Family Parodontidae Eigenmann, 1910 - darter tetras
                     08 Family Gasteropelecidae Bleeker, 1859 - freshwater hatchetfishes
                     09 Family Prochilodontidae Eigenmann, 1909 - bocachicos
                     10 Family Curimatidae Gill, 1858 - toothless characiforms
                     11 Family Anostomidae Günther, 1864 - toothed headstanders
                     12 Family Hemidontidae see Family Hemiodontidae Bleeker, 1859
                     13 Family Chilodontidae Fowler, 1950, nom. illeg. - headstanders see Family Chilodidae Eigenmann, 1910
                     14 Family Distichodontidae Günther, 1864 - distichodontids
                     15 Family Citharinidae Günther, 1864 - citharinids
                     16 Family Ichthyoboridae see Family Distichodontidae Günther, 1864