Hyphessobrycon is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Characidae of order Characiformes. These species are among the fishes known as tetras. The genus is distributed from southern Mexico to Río de la Plata in Argentina. Many of these species are native to the Neotropic ecozone in South America; about half a dozen species are from Central America and a single species, H. compressus is from southern Mexico. All small fishes, the Hyphessobrycon tetras reach maximum overall lengths of about 2–7 cm (0.75–2.75 in). There is great anatomical diversity in this genus. They are generally of typical characin shape, but vary greatly in coloration and body form, many species having distinctive black, red or yellow markings on their bodies and fins. These species are generally omnivorous, feeding p