Carlana is a monospecific genus of freshwater Actinopterygii belonging to the family Acestrorhamphidae, the American characins.[ The maximum standard length is .]
C. eigenmanni is found in freshwater environments in Central America in the Pacific and Atlantic drainages from Nicaragua to Panama. This species specifically lives close to the shoreline, river backwaters, and motionless region of habitats. They can be found near vegetation. They feed mainly on algae and sometimes on aquatic insects.
The fish is named in honor of ichthyologist Carl H. Eigenmann, who increased the knowledge of the characins.
