Loaches, Carps and Minnows: Order Cypriniformes

The order Cypriniformes contains the carps, minnows, loaches and other relatives. There are approximately 3,250 species of cyprinids. New species are being described all the time. The family is native to North America, Africa and Asia, but the most diversity exists in SE Asia. There are no native cyprinids in Australia or South America. Currently the smallest known freshwater fish is a cypriniform fish (Danionella translucida) that reaches a max length of 12 millimeters.

Classification

The order Cypriniformes is grouped into the following five families.

Hillstream Loaches - Family Balitoridae

There are about 600 species of hillstream loaches, also called river loaches. They are found mostly in southeast asia, and are considered Eurasian in distribution. Most species prefer swift, clear, well-oxygenated rivers. Because of this preference, hillstream loaches have modified ventral fins the are used for clinging to rocks. While hillstream loaches are generally rare in the mainstream aquarium trade, they have become extremely popular for specialty collectors. They remain small and are fun to watch as they skirt about in fast-moving river tanks.

True Loaches - Family Cobitidae

Over 100 species are grouped under the family Cobitidae, the true loaches. Most of the loaches in this family lack true scales, making them look very smooth. The majority of true loaches are benthic feeders, searching for food in the substrate. Barbels at their mouths and a downward orientation of their mouths help them in this benthic lifestyle. Other characteristics include an erectile spine below the eye and a single row of pharyngeal teeth. Interestingly, most of these loaches are adapted to eutrophic, and low-oxygen waters. They are able to gulp oxygen from the air. Some of the most common loaches for aquarium hobbyists are true loaches. They include, the clown loach, dojo loach, horseface loach, skunk loach, kuhli loach, yoyo loach, zebra loach, bengal loach and burmese border loach.

Suckers - Family Catostomidae

This small family is known as the sucker family. It contains approximately 80 species of freshwater fish.  Suckers are found in North America, east central china and eastern Siberia.  While suckers may not be a popular game fish in North America, they can grow to fairly large sizes.  They often resemble carp in their appearance and have downward facing mouths. 

Sucking Loaches - Family Gyrinocheilidae

The family Gyrinocheilidae contains only one genus (Gyrinocheilus) with three living species.  These are the spotted algae eater (Gyrinocheilus pennocki), the borneo algae eater (Gyrinocheilus pustulosus), and the chinese algae eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri.  The later, the chinese algae eater, is the one most commonly found in the aquarium trade.  It is extremely rare to find the other two.  The mouths of these fish have developed into a sukermouth and their gills have developed two gill slits.  Water can move in one slit and out the other so that they can keep their mouth suctioned to a surface at all times.

Carps and Minnows - Family Cyprinidae

The family Cyprinidae is a huge famiy of about 2,400 species.  It consists of carp, true minnows, barbs, barbels, mountain carps, pikeminnows and other relatives. Cyprinids are stomachless and toothless.  Food is chewed by the pharyngeal teeth (the last gill rakers). Cyprinids also have amazing hearing because they have an organ known as the Webereian organ - it consists of three specialized vertebra processions that transfer the motion of the gas bladder to the inner ear.

More Videos on Fish in the Cypriniformes

A short video about the potential threat of Asian Carp