Crenuchidae is a family of fresh water fish of the order Characiformes. There are twelve genera including about 74 species, though there are several undescribed species. These fish are relatively small (usually under 10 centimetres or 4 inches) and originate from eastern Panama and South America. Both subfamilies were previously included in the family Characidae, and were placed in a separate family by Buckup, 1998 . Buckup, 1993, revised all genera, except Characidium.