Cyprinus is the genus of typical carps in family Cyprinidae. Most species in the genus are of East Asia origin with only the common carp in Western Asia and Europe; this invasive species has also been introduced to many other regions around the world. Cyprinus are closely related to some more barb-like genera, such as Cyclocheilichthys and Barbonymus (tinfoils). The crucian carps (Carassius) of western Eurasia, which include the goldfish, are apparently not as closely related.
Dianchi Lake, also known as Lake Dian and Kunming Lake, is a large lake located on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau close to Kunming, Yunnan, China. Its nickname is the "Sparkling Pearl Embedded in a Highland" and it was the model for the Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace in Beijing. Its name is the source of Yunnan's Chinese abbreviation 滇.
Erhai or Er Lake, is an alpine fault lake in Yunnan province, China. Erhai was also known as Yeyuze (叶榆泽) or Kunming Lake (昆明池) in ancient times.
Yilong Lake is a large freshwater lake located in Shiping County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan province, southwestern China. The lake has a surface area of approximately 32 square kilometres (12 sq mi) and is particularly notable for its scenery, including the colorful lotus flowers that bloom on its surface. It is located about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east of the county seat. The people who live in the vicinity of the lake are largely of the Yi ethnic group. As of the spring of 2013 a severe drought had resulted in substantial lowering of the water level.
Anabarilius polylepis is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae, that is endemic to Yunnan, China. It only occurs in Dian Lake and Songhuaba reservoir in Kunming. It was once a major commercial fish species, but it has not been confirmed in the lake since the 1970s. Its decline is attributed to many factors: introduced fish species, decreasing water quality, the loss of macrophytes, over-fishing, and the loss of breeding sites due to siltation and blocked access.
Cyprinus yilongensis is an extinct species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae. It was found only in Yilong Lake, Yunnan, China. It was last seen before 1981, when the lake was drained for 20 days, presumably causing the species' extermination.
Sphaerophysa dianchiensis is a critically endangered species of stone loach endemic to the Dian Lake in China, but it has not been confirmed in decades and is likely extinct.
The Kunming catfish is a critically endangered species of catfish in the family Siluridae. It is endemic to Dian Chi Lake, China. There have been no confirmed records in decades and it is feared extinct. S. mento grows to a length of 21.5 centimetres (8.5 in) TL.
Fuxian Lake stretches out through Chengjiang, Jiangchuan and Huaning Counties in Yunnan Province, spanning an area of 212 square kilometers. The lake is ranked third-largest in Yunnan, after Dian Lake and Erhai Lake. Also the deepest lake in Yunnan, it is 155 meters deep at its greatest depth. It is also the third-deepest fresh water lake in China, after Tianchi and Kanas Lake.
Neosalanx tangkahkeii, the Chinese icefish or short-snout icefish, is a species of icefish endemic to fresh and brackish waters in China. Despite its common name it is not the only icefish in China; the majority of the species in this family are found in the country.
Schizothorax grahami is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Schizothorax. It is endemic to Lake Dianchi, its tributaries and connected springs, in Yunnan Province, China. The species has not been caught in the lake in the past 20 years, but it is present in one tributary drainage basin. The introduction of exotic fish is the main threat to this species.
Yunnanilus discoloris is a species of ray-finned fish, a stone loach, in the genus Yunnanilus. It is currently only in a single spring in the drainage basin of Lake Dianchi in Yunnan.
Cyprinus barbatus is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Cyprinus. It is endemic to Lake Erhai in Dali, Yunnan, China. It is negatively impacted by agricultural and domestic pollution and introduced species. The IUCN considers it as critically endangered and possibly extinct, but records as recent as the 2000s (decade) show that it likely does survive.
Cyprinus chilia is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Cyprinus from several lakes in the Yunnan plateau of China.
Cyprinus daliensis is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Cyprinus. It is endemic to Lake Erhai in Dali, Yunnan. It has not been recorded since the 1960s and is possibly extinct.
Cyprinus fuxianensis is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Cyprinus. The species is only known from Fuxian Lake in Yunnan. It has been impacted by habitat degradation, overfishing, and introduced species. It has declined by over 80% in the past 21 years. It was not recorded in a survey in 1995; IUCN considers it as Critically Endangered and possibly extinct.
Cyprinus megalophthalmus is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Cyprinus that is endemic to Lake Erhai in China. There have been no records since the 1980s and it is possibly extinct.
Cyprinus qionghaiensis is a critically endangered species of fish in the genus Cyprinus from Qiong Lake in Yunnan, China.
Cyprinus yunnanensis is a critically endangered species of cyprinid fish in the genus Cyprinus from Qilu Lake in Yunnan, China. Despite surveys of the lake it has not been seen since the 1970s and it is possibly extinct. It reaches up to about 20 cm (8 in) in length.
Liobagrus kingi, the King's bullhead, is a species of catfish in the family Amblycipitidae endemic to China, where it is known to occur in the lake Dianchi basin, in its tributaries and effluent river, the Zhangjiu, and two tributaries of the Jinshajiang river in Sichuan and Yunnan. It has not been recorded in the lake since the 1960s. This species grows to a length of 9.5 centimetres (3.7 in) SL.
