Charax Scopoli 1777

“ Charax ” Gronow, 1763: 123 (Non-binominal nomenclature, article 5 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature).

Charax Scopoli, 1777: 445 (type species: Salmo gibbosus Linnaeus, 1758, by subsequent designation of Eigenmann, 1910:444).

Characinus Lacépède, 1803: 269 (type species: Salmo gibbosus by subsequent designation of Jordan, 1917: 66.

Epicyrtus Müller & Troschel, 1844: 92 (type species: Salmo gibbosus, by monotypy).

Anacyrtus Günther, 1864: 345 (new name to replace Epicyrtus Müller & Troschel, preoccupied in Insecta, Dejean, 1833. Type species: Salmo gibbosus, by original designation).

Asiphonichthys Cope, 1894: 67 (type species: Asiphonichthys stenopterus Cope, by monotypy).

Moralesia Fowler, 1943: 36 (type species: Anacyrus tectifer Cope, 1870, by original designation).

Charaxodon Fernandez-Yepez, 1947: 1 (type species: Charax metae Eigenmann, 1922, by original designation).

Moralesicus Fowler, 1958: 9 (type species: Anacyrtus tectifer Cope, 1870, by original designation. Name erroneously proposed to replace Moralesia Fowler).

Diagnosis. In a recent phylogenetic analysis of characters of the genera of the Characinae, Mattox & Toledo-Piza (2012) demonstrated that Charax is the sister-group of Roeboides, with the exclusive members of the tribe Characini. Charax can be distinguished not only from Roeboides, but from all other characid genera by the presence of a notch on the posteroventral portion of the cleithrum originating a posteriorly directed spiniform projection (Lucena, 1987: 68, figs. 15; 69, fig. 16). This uniquely derived synapomorphy used in combination with the following non-exclusive characters are useful for diagnosing Charax.

1 - Rhinosphenoid absent (Mattox & Toledo-Piza, 2012: 837, fig. 17A).

2 - Anterodorsal branch of laterosensory canal absent on infraorbital 6 (Mattox & Toledo-Piza, 2012: 841, fig. 19A).

3 - Jaws without external teeth.

4 - Humeral dark blotch present, inconspicuous in Charax stenopterus and closer to vertical through dorsal-fin origin than to posterior border of opercle in some species.