The Distichodontidae are a family of fresh water African fishes of the order Characiformes. Two evolutionary grades are found in this family; micropredators (predators of very small organisms) and herbivores have a nonprotractile upper jaw and a deep to shallow body, while carnivores have a movable upper jaw and an elongated body. The fish vary greatly in size among species, with the micropredators being less than 8 cm (3.1 in) in length, and the largest carnivores can reach up to 83 cm (33 in).