Carps Minnows and Relatives: Cypriniformes - Behavior And Reproduction, Minnow, Carps, And Loaches And Their Relatives And People, Conservation Status - PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS, GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET

STONEROLLER (Campostoma anomalum): SPECIES ACCOUNTS
SILVER CARP (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix): SPECIES ACCOUNTS
CLOWN LOACH (Botia macracanthus): SPECIES ACCOUNTS

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Minnows, carps, and loaches and their relatives have an upper jaw that can extend forward and a toothless mouth. The head is almost always scaleless. Some species have one to three rows of teeth in the throat with never more than eight teeth in any one row. Other species have more of these teeth but in only one row.

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Minnows, carps, and loaches and their relatives live in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.

HABITAT

Almost all carps, minnows, and loaches and their relatives live in freshwater.

DIET

Carps, minnows, and loaches and their relatives eat plants, insects, other fishes, plankton, and algae. Algae (AL-jee) are tiny plantlike growths that live in water and have no true roots, stems, or leaves. Plankton is made up of microscopic plants and animals drifting in the water and too small to be seen with the eye.