Alestes is a genus in the family Alestidae, known as the "African Characidae" as they are found exclusively on that continent. As suggested by that name, they Alestidae was formerly included in Characidae. Myletes is a synonym of Alestes,[1] but the former name has historically also been used for various South American serrasalmids.

Alestes
Alestes baremoze
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Alestidae
Subfamily: Alestinae
Genus: Alestes
J. P. Müller & Troschel, 1846
Type species
Salmo niloticus
Species

See text.

Synonyms

Myletes

Within the Lake Chad basin, Alestes and Hydrocynus, collectively known as salanga, are lightly smoked and dried.[2]

Species

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There are currently seven recognized species in this genus:[3]

Species brought into synonymy

References

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  1. ^ Myletes Cuvier, 1814, Integrated Taxonomic Information System
  2. ^ Fisheries Development Within the Framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission by A. Staunch, presented at the Symposium on the Evaluation of Fishery Resources in the Development and Management of Inland Fisheries, 1972 (hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization)
  3. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Alestes". FishBase. February 2013 version.
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