Stevardiidae

Stevardiidae is a large family of freshwater fish in the order Characiformes. It includes many genera previously placed in the family Characidae, which was split into multiple families in 2024. They are found throughout South and Central America. In earlier taxonomic treatments, most genera in this family were placed in the characid subfamily Glandulocaudinae, which has been redefined as a much smaller subfamily of the Stevardiidae.

As suggested by their former taxonomic name, a gland on their caudal fin is found almost exclusively in the males of many species of this family, which allows the release and pumping of pheromones. Members of this subfamily have complex courtship behaviors which lead to insemination. The ecology and life history of these fish is complex yet little studied. Stevardiids are important components of the diet for commercially-harvested larger fish.