Systematics Cypriniformes

nemacheilus chrysolaimos stone loach. closely related true loaches, these have barbels.



the chinese algae eater (gyrinocheilus aymonieri), 1 of sucking loaches distant other loaches



erimyzon sucetta, small sucker

historically these included forms placed in superorder ostariophysi except catfish, placed in order siluriformes. definition, cypriniformes paraphyletic, orders gonorhynchiformes, characiformes (characins , allies), , gymnotiformes (knifefishes , electric eels) have been separated out form own monophyletic orders.

the families of cypriniformes traditionally divided 2 superfamilies. superfamily cyprinioidea contains carps , minnows (cyprinidae) and, according some, mountain carps family psilorhynchidae. in 2012 maurice kottelat reviewed superfamily cobitioidea , under revision consists of following families: hillstream loaches (balitoridae), barbuccidae, botiidae, suckers (catostomidae), true loaches (cobitidae), ellopostomatidae, gastromyzontidae, sucking loaches (gyrinocheilidae), stone loaches (nemacheilidae), serpenticobitidae , long-finned loaches (vaillantellidae).

catostomoidea treated junior synonym of cobitioidea. seems split off catostomidae , gyrinocheilidae in distinct superfamily; catostomoidea might closer relatives of carps , minnows of true loaches. while cyprinioidea seem more primitive loach-like forms, apparently successful enough never shift original ecological niche of basal ostariophysi. yet, ecomorphologically conservative main lineage apparently @ least 2 major radiations branched off. these diversified lowlands torrential river habitats, acquiring similar habitus , adaptations in process.

the mountain carps highly apomorphic cyprinidae, perhaps close true carps (cyprininae), or maybe danionins. while details phylogenetic structures of massively diverse family known – e.g. cultrinae , leuciscinae rather close relatives , stand apart cyprininae – there no consensus yet on how main lineages interrelated. systematic list, ancient modern lineages, can given as:

superfamily cyprinoidei

family cyprinidae bonaparte, 1840 (carps, koi, goldfish) , minnows incl. psilorhynchidae)


superfamily cobitioidei

superfamily catostomoidea

family catostomidae agassiz 1850 (suckers)


superfamily gyrinocheiloidea

family gyrinocheilidae gill 1905 (algae eaters; sucking loaches)


superfamily cobitoidea

family barbuccidae kottelat 2012 (scooter/fire-eyed loaches)
family serpenticobitidae kottelat 2012 (snake/serpent loaches)
family botiidae berg 1940 (pointface loaches)
family vaillantellidae nalbant & bănărescu 1977 (longfin loaches)
family cobitidae swainson 1838 (true loaches)
family balitoridae swainson 1839 (hillstream loaches)
family gastromyzontidae fowler 1905 (sucker loaches)
family ellopostomatidae bohlen & Šlechtová 2009 (square-head/sturgeon-mouthed loaches)
family nemacheilidae regan 1911 (brook/stone loaches)





phylogeny

phylogeny based on work of following works

evolution

cypriniformes include primitive of ostariophysi in narrow sense (i.e. excluding gonorynchiformes). evidenced not physiological details, great distribution, indicates had longest time spread. earliest cypriniformes might have diverged characiphysi (characiformes , relatives) thought triassic, 250 million years ago (mya). however, divergence occurred splitting-up of pangaea in jurassic, maybe 160 million years ago. 110 mya, plate tectonics evidence indicates laurasian cypriniformes must have been distinct gondwanan relatives.

cypriniformes thought have originated in south-east asia, diversity of group found today. alternative hypothesis began in south america, similar other otophysans. if case, have spread asia through africa or north america before continents split up, these purely freshwater fishes. characiformes began diversify , spread, may have out-competed south american basal cypriniforms in africa, more advanced cypriniforms survive , coexist characiforms.

the earliest cypriniform fossils assignable living family catostomidae; paleocene of alberta, 60 million years old. during eocene (55-35 mya), catostomids , cyprinids spread throughout asia. in oligocene, around 30 mya, advanced cyprinids began out-compete catostomids wherever sympatric, causing decline of suckers. cyprinids reached north america , europe same time, , africa in miocene (some 23-20 mya). cypriniforms spread north america through bering land bridge, formed , disappeared again several times during many millions of years of cypriniform evolution.