FAMILIES - Detail

More info | Plus d'info | Mais info

Language:English | Chinese

FishBase

Family Cyprinidae - Minnows or carps

Order:

Cypriniformes

Class:

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

No. of Genera:

210

No. of Species:

2010

Environment:

Fresh: Yes Brackish: Yes Marine: No

Aquarium:

many

First Fossil Record:

lower Tertiary, Eocene Ref.: Cavender, T.M..1991

Remark:

Distribution: North America (northern Canada to southern Mexico), Africa, and Eurasia. 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:

nonguarders

Typical activity level:

normal

Main Ref.:

Nelson, J.S..1994

Coordinator:

Show species | Nominal species list for Cyprinidae | Identification keys | CAS specimen photos | References

Update \| Add new Family	Ref.:				Glossary
		( e.g. 9948)				( e.g. cephalopods)