Phylum Chordata Bateson, 1885 - chordates
   Subphylum Vertebrata Cuvier, 1812 - vertebrates see Infraphylum Vertebrata Lamarck, 1801
     Pisces
       Class Actinopterygii Woodward, 1891 - ray-finned fishes see Clade Actinopterygii Woodward 1891 [Moore & Near 2020]
         Order Characiformes Goodrich, 1909 - characins
           Family Alestiidae Nelson, 2006, nom. illeg. - African tetras see Family Alestidae Cockerell, 1910
           Family Characidae Latreille, 1825 - characids
           Family Citharinidae Günther, 1864 - citharinids
           Family Ctenoluciidae Schultz, 1944 - pike characids
           Family Curimatidae Gill, 1858 - toothless characiforms
           Family Cynodontidae Eigenmann, 1903, nom. protect. - sabertoothed characids
           Family Erythrinidae Valenciennes, 1847 - trahiras
           Family Gasteropelecidae Bleeker, 1859 - freshwater hatchetfishes
           Family Hemiodontidae Bleeker, 1859 - hemiodontids
           Family Hepsetidae Hubbs, 1939 (1909) - African pikes
           Family Lebiasinidae Gill, 1889 - lebiasinids
           Family †Salminopsidae Gayet, 1985