File:Cobitis_biwae(Hamamatsu,Shizuoka,Japan,2007).jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Cobitidae
Sign in to saveCobitidae, 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 (see below). The family includes about 260 described species. New species are being described regularly.
Species
loaches
FAMILY
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassTeleostei
- OrderCypriniformes
- FamilyCobitidae
via GBIF
Wikidata facts
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- Horseface loach reduced.jpg
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- Commons category
- Cobitidae
- taxon name
- Cobitidae
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- činklje
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Article
7 sectionsContents
- Description and ecology
- Systematics
- Genera
- Use by humans
- As aquarium fish
- See also
- References
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 (see below). The family includes about 260 described species. New species are being described regularly.
==Description and ecology== The body forms of the Cobitidae tend to be vermiform – worm-shaped, long and thin. Most true loaches do not have true scales, and like many other Cypriniformes or catfishes, they have barbels at their mouths (usually three to six pairs). Some other traits typically found in this family are a small bottom-facing mouth suited to their scavenging benthic lifestyle, an erectile spine below the eye, and a single row of pharyngeal (throat) teeth.