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, but 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.
Balitoridae, the hillstream loaches or river loaches, is a family, of small fish from South, Southeast and East Asia. The family includes about 202 species. They are sometimes sold as "lizardfish" or "flossensaugers". Many of the species are popular for aquaria, species in the genus Sewellia are most commonly sold in the aquaria trade. They have a number of similarities with the Cobitidae, their sibling family of "loaches", such as multiple barbels around the mouth. They should not be confused with the loricariids, which look similar but are a family of catfish.
Hemimyzon taitungensis is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Balitoridae that is endemic to Taiwan. It is a small freshwater fish currently known only from running waters of the Central Mountain Range of Taiwan at high and middle elevations. In contrast to H. formosanus, it appears to be a well-defined species with no signs of strong genetic structuring suggestive of cryptic species.
Hemimyzon is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Balitoridae, the river or hillstream loaches. The species in this genus are found in eastern Asia.
Homaloptera is a genus of ray-finned fish in the family Balitoridae.
Balitoropsis ophiolepis, the slender lizard loach, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Balitoridae, species in this family are commonly called the hillstream loaches, although this common name also refers to the loaches in the family Gastromyzontidae. The slender lizard loch lives in rocky riffles in fast flowing hill streams in the basins of the Musi and Tulang Bawang Rivers in southern Sumatra and the Kapuas River in West Kalimantan on Borneo in Indonesia.
Balitoropsis zollingeri the black lizard loach, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Balitoridae, species in this family are commonly called the hillstream loaches, although this common name also refers to the loaches in the family Gastromyzontidae. The black lizard loach is found in unpolluted streams with a fast current, high levels of dissolved oxygen and rocky beds. It shows a preference for areas where there are pebbles, rocks, boulders or bedrock completely covered in algae.
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.
Jinshaia is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Balitoridae, the loaches in this family are commonly known as hillstream loaches although this name also refers to the loaches in the family Gastromyzontidae. These loaches are endemic to China.
Lepturichthys is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Balitoridae, the loaches in this family are commonly known as hillstream loaches although this name also refers to the loaches in the family Gastromyzontidae. These loaches are endemic to China.
Metahomaloptera is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Balitoridae, the loaches in this family are commonly known as hillstream loaches although this name also refers to the loaches in the family Gastromyzontidae. These loaches are endemic to China.
Sewellia is a genus of fish in the family Gastromyzontidae. They are commonly called hillstream loaches and are found in Laos and Vietnam. According to Roberts (1998) a possible defining characteristic of the genus Sewellia is their posterior pelvic valve is highly complex and different from other rheophilic loaches, their posterior pelvic valve involves the overlapping of the second to last ventrally exposed rays. Adapted to high velocity streams, Sewellia have depressed body shapes that are laterally expanded, thus increasing their hydrodynamical properties and allowing them to better stay attached to rocks in swift current. Sewellia also have paired fins with a single simple ray and numerous branched rays allowing them to grip rocks in swift current.
Balitoropsis also known as the lizard loaches is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Balitoridae, the loaches in this family are commonly known as hillstream loaches although this name also refers to the loaches in the family Gastromyzontidae. These loaches are found in mainland Southeast Asia, Sumatra and Borneo.
The Gastromyzontidae are a family of loaches native to China and Southeast Asia, where typically found in streams and rivers with a fast current. The family includes about 137 species in eighteen genera. This family was resurrected by M. Kottelat in his review and revision of the loaches in 2012. They are commonly called hillstream loaches.
Homalopteroides is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Balitoridae, the loaches in this family are commonly known as hillstream loaches although this name also refers to the loaches in the family Gastromyzontidae. These loaches are found in Southeast Asia.
Pseudohomaloptera is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Balitoridae, the river or hillstream loaches. The species in this genus are found in eastern Asia.
Pseudohomaloptera vulgaris is a fish species of the genus Pseudohomaloptera in the family Balitoridae.
Pseudohomaloptera yunnanensis is a fish species of the genus Pseudohomaloptera in the family Balitoridae.
