Original description:
- Günther, Albert C. L. G. 1866. "Catalogue of the Physostomi, containing the families Salmonidae, Percopsidae, Galaxidae, Mormyridae, Gymnarchidae, Esocidae, Umbridae, Scombresocidae, Cyprinodontidae, in the collection of the British Museum". Catalogue of the fishes in the British Museum. 6:1-368 (ffm04521)
Type species: Characodon lateralis Günther, 1866 (monotypy).
Described species included (3):
valid: 2 synonym: 1- Characodon lateralis Günther, 1866 (valid)
- Characodon garmani Jordan & Everman, 1898 (valid)
- Characodon audax Smith & Miller, 1986 (synonym)