Cypriniformes is an order of ray-finned fish, which includes many families and genera of cyprinid fish, such as barbs, gobies, loaches, botias, and minnows. Cypriniformes is an "order-within-an-order", placed under the superorder Ostariophysi—which is also made up of cyprinid, ostariophysin fishes. The order contains 11–12 families, over 400 genera, and more than 4,250 named species; new species are regularly described, and new genera are recognized frequently. Cyprinids are most diverse in South and Southeast Asia and are entirely absent from Australia and South America. At 112 years old, the longest-lived cypriniform fish documented is the bigmouth buffalo.
Cobitidae, also known as the true loaches, is a family of Old World freshwater fish. They occur throughout Eurasia and in Morocco, and inhabit riverine ecosystems. Today, most "loaches" are placed in other families. The family includes about 260 described species. New species are being described regularly.
Pangio is a genus of small Asian freshwater fish in the true loach family Cobitidae. In earlier taxonomic schemes it was known as Acanthophthalmus. The "kuhli loach" is well-known in the aquarium trade and commonly identified as P. kuhlii, but most individuals actually appear to be P. semicincta.
Botia is a genus of freshwater fish in the loach family (Botiidae). It was a large genus with about 20 species. In 2004 Maurice Kottelat proposed in his paper to divide the genus into four related genera based on fish appearance and locality:
The spined loach is a common freshwater fish in Europe. It is sometimes known as spotted weather loach, not to be confused with the "typical" weather loaches of the genus Misgurnus. This is the type species of the spiny loach genus (Cobitis) and the true loach family (Cobitidae).
Misgurnus is a genus of true loaches found in Europe and Asia. The origin of the name Misgurnus comes from the Greek word miseo and the Turkish gür (loud), a name given to them due to their habit of becoming very active during barometric pressure changes that occur during thunderstorms. The common names, weather loach or weatherfish, also derive from this behavior. Some species of misgurnus are eaten, mostly in Asia, and are also sold as pets in the aquarium trade. Their average size can range from 6 to over 12 inches.
Cobitis fahireae. the Küçük Menderes spined loach, is a species of loach endemic to Turkey, where it occurs in intermittent rivers.
Cobitis vardarensis, the Vardar spined loach, is a species of ray-finned fish in the true loach family Cobitidae.
Gobio is a genus of typical gudgeons, ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae many of which are endemics of south-eastern Europe. Members of the genus are usually small fish, rarely longer than 10 cm.
The golden loaches (Sabanejewia) are a genus of ray-finned fish in the family Cobitidae.
Botiidae, the pointface loaches, is a family of cypriniform ray-finned fishes from South, Southeast, and East Asia. Until recently they were placed in the true loach family Cobitidae, until Maurice Kottelat revised the loaches and re-elevated this taxon to family rank in 2012. The family includes about 56 species.
Oxynoemacheilus mediterraneus, the Pamphylian loach, is a species of Cypriniformes fish in the genus Oxynoemacheilus. This species is found in the Lake Eğirdir drainage of central Anatolia and in the Aksu and Küpü rivers draining to the Gulf of Antalya. It is widespread and normally abundant in streams with fast flowing currents to almost standing waters. It is, however, locally decreasing due to dam constructions and is also threatened by pollution and water abstraction, as well as by reduced regional rainfall due to climate change.
Oxynoemacheilus phoxinoides, the Iznik loach, is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Oxynoemacheilus. The species is endemic to a single small stream, less than 5 km in length in the drainage of Lake Iznik in north-western Anatolia, Turkey. The species is abundant in its restricted habitat but the population seems to be declining with abstraction of water from the stream for irrigation thought to be the main threat but as climate changed reduces the rainfall in the region the likelihood of droughts is increased.
The true Kuhli loach, which can be used synonymously with "coolie" loach, occasionally referred to as eel loach, is a small eel-like freshwater fish belonging to the loach family (Cobitidae). They originate from the island of Java in Indonesia. This serpentine, worm-shaped creature is very slender and nocturnal. Its distinctive orange-pink coloration with triangular black stripes and long lifespan makes it a popular aquarium species.
Loaches are ray-finned fish of the suborder Cobitoidei. They are freshwater, benthic (bottom-dwelling) fish found in rivers and creeks throughout Eurasia and northern Africa. Loaches are among the most diverse groups of fish; the 1249 known species of Cobitoidei comprise about 107 genera divided among 9 families.
Oxynoemacheilus is a genus of fish in the family Nemacheilidae found in Europe and Western Asia.
Paraschistura is a genus of stone loaches most of which occur in Central, South and Western Asia.
Cobitis brevifasciata is a vulnerable species of loach endemic to the Korean Peninsula.
Koreocobitis is a small genus of loaches endemic to the Korean Peninsula.
Parabotia is a genus of loaches. Most species in the genus are endemic to China, but P. curtis is from Japan, P. dubius is from Vietnam, and P. mantschuricus is from the Amur River basin.
