Encyclopedia of Life · EOL (see source)
hillstream loach
Sign in to saveAlso known as Balitoridae, river loach, Homalopteridae
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 (in Germany) "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.
Species
river loaches
Family
- PhylumChordata
- ClassTeleostei
- OrderCypriniformes
- FamilyBalitoridae
De steenkruipers of platte grondels (Balitoridae) vormen een familie uit de orde van de Karperachtigen (Cypriniformes). De meeste soorten leven in snelstromend, helder en zuurstofrijk water. Sommige soorten uit de onderfamilie Balitorinae hebben speciaal aangepaste vinnen om zich vast te kunnen houden aan stenen. De soorten hebben meerdere barbelen rond de bek. De familie omvat meer dan 600 soorten in meer dan 60 geslachten. Veel soorten worden in aquaria gehouden.
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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 (in Germany) "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.
Most species are rheophilic, living in swift, clear and well-oxygenated streams. Several species of the family live in fast-flowing streams or torrents and have modified ventral fins used for clinging to rocks.