Supernumerary chromosomes were described for five species of Neotropical characiform fishes. These extra chromosomes were small, acrocentric and fully heterochromatic in Leporinus friderici from two different localities as well as in Leporinus sp., but metacentric and fully heterochromatic in Cyphocharax modesta and Prochilodus nigricans. In Characidium cf. zebra, this element was small, acrocentric and euchromatic. GC-rich DNA blocks were observed in the supernumerary chromosome of Leporinus sp. using chromomycin A3. The widespread occurrence of these extra chromosomal elements suggests their independent origins.