# Cardinal tetra (*Paracheirodon axelrodi*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/cardinal-tetra  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) is a bony fish in the family Acestrorhamphidae and the subfamily Pristellinae. It belongs to the order Characiformes, suborder Characoidei, within the class Teleostei. Other English names for the cardinal tetra are Red neon and Scarlet characin, and its scientific name carries the authority (Schultz, 1956).

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | 3 cm |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | freshwater |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Not recorded |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Teleostei
- order: Characiformes
- family: Acestrorhamphidae
- genus: Paracheirodon
- species: *Paracheirodon axelrodi* (Schultz, 1956)

Synonyms: *Cheirodon axelrodi*, *Hyphessobrycon cardinalis*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the cardinal tetra?

The cardinal tetra is a fish, specifically a bony fish in the class Teleostei.

### What is the scientific name of the cardinal tetra?

The scientific name of the cardinal tetra is Paracheirodon axelrodi, placed in the genus Paracheirodon.

### What family does the cardinal tetra belong to?

The cardinal tetra belongs to the family Acestrorhamphidae, subfamily Pristellinae, in the order Characiformes.

### What are other names for the cardinal tetra?

The cardinal tetra is also called Red neon and Scarlet characin.

### Who named the cardinal tetra and when?

The scientific name authority is written as (Schultz, 1956), referring to Schultz in 1956.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/cardinal-tetra