Prochilodontidae

The Prochilodontidae, or flannel-mouthed characins, are a small family of freshwater fishes found primarily in the northern half of South America, south to Paraguay and northern Argentina. This family is closely related to the Curimatidae, and in the past they were included in Characidae.

Prochilodontidae
Prochilodus lineatus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Characiformes
Suborder:	Anostomoidea
Family:	Prochilodontidae
Genera
Ichthyoelephas Prochilodus Semaprochilodus

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 80 cm (2.6 ft) 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.^[1]

Species

The family has around 21 species in three genera:^[2]

• Ichthyoelephas
  • Ichthyoelephas humeralis
  • Ichthyoelephas longirostris
• Prochilodus
  • Prochilodus argenteus
  • Prochilodus brevis - Brazilian bocachico
  • Prochilodus britskii
  • Prochilodus costatus
  • Prochilodus hartii
  • Prochilodus lacustris
  • Prochilodus lineatus - streaked prochilod
  • Prochilodus magdalenae
  • Prochilodus mariae
  • Prochilodus nigricans - black prochilodus
  • Prochilodus reticulatus - Colombian bocachico
  • Prochilodus rubrotaeniatus
  • Prochilodus vimboides
• Semaprochilodus
  • Semaprochilodus brama
  • Semaprochilodus insignis
  • Semaprochilodus kneri
  • Semaprochilodus laticeps
  • Semaprochilodus taeniurus - silver prochilodus
  • Semaprochilodus varii