Order

Cypriniformes

  Class

Teleostei

  No. of Genera in Ref

210

  No. of Species in Ref

2010

  Environment

Fresh : Yes | Brackish : Yes | Marine : No

  Aquarium

many

  First Fossil Record

lower   Tertiary     Eocene

  Remark

Distribution: Freshwaters of North America (northern Canada to southern Mexico), Africa, and Eurasia. Only two species occur in true marine waters (Tribolodon brandtii (Dybowski, 1872), Tribolodon sachalinensis (Nikolskii, 1889)). Pharynx with 1-3 rows of teeth, each row with a maximum of 8 teeth. Usually thin lips, plicae or papillae absent; mouth sometimes suckerlike (Garra and Labeo). With or without barbels. Premaxilla usually borders the upper jaw making the maxilla entirely or almost entirely excluded from the gape. Usually protrusible upper jaw. Dorsal fin with spinelike rays in some. Primitive number of chromosomes 2n=50, some with 48; polyploidy exists. Maximum length at least 2.5 m to probably 3 m in Catlocarpio siamensis; many species less than 5 cm. Mainly non-guarders, but in some species males build nests and/or protect the eggs.

  Etymology

Greek, kyprinos = goldfish. 1828 ( Ref. 45335).

  Division

Primary freshwater

  Reproductive guild

mixed

  Typical activity level

normal

  Main Ref

Nelson, J.S. 1994

  Coordinator