List of river fish. Cyprinids - Fish Encyclopedia

The basic definition of a fish species is as follows: a vertebrate that breathes through gills and lives in water, has fin-like limbs, scaly skin, and cold blood. In order to better navigate its varieties, commercial fish were grouped according to their main features and species characteristics.

The main list of fish families and their photos will help to give a complete picture of the individuals.

Sturgeon family

Sturgeons do not have scales, and instead of a spine, they have a chord (a cartilaginous string). The meat is tasty, fatty and dense, caviar is of great importance. Sturgeons live in the Azov, Black and Caspian Seas, as well as in Siberian rivers.

In cooking, they are actively used for the preparation of balyks, canned food, as well as various kinds of dishes. In addition, it is also consumed raw.

The classification of fish of the sturgeon family is as follows:

• beluga;
• sturgeon;
• Kaluga;
• stellate sturgeon;
• sterlet.

Herring fish family

These include:

• Pacific, Atlantic, Caspian, White Sea herring;
• herring;
• tyulka;
• sardinella;
• sprat;
• sardines, etc.

They have silver-colored sides and belly, and the back is dark, small scales that lend themselves well to cleaning. The meat is quite bony, it is most often used for salting, as well as for the preparation of canned food.

family of carp fish

They have a high body, one fin on the back, dense scales. The meat has a lot of bones, but despite this, it is very tasty and tender. They live both in rivers and in the seas and oceans, respectively, there are many freshwater fish in the family. These include:

• carp;
• silver carp;
• crucian carp;
• Amur;
• vobla;
• ide, etc.

Carps are dried, smoked, sold fresh and frozen.

perch family

They have one spiny fin and one soft fin on their backs.

Particularly important:

• zander;
• perch.

They do not have small bones, the meat is white, elastic and tender. They are used both in cooking and in canning.

flounder family

They have a flat, wide body with eyes on one side, and a fan-shaped tail. The meat is tasty and fatty, has few bones. The flounders include:

• halibuts;
• flounder;
• sole.

salmon fish family

These include:

• real salmon (salmon, trout, whitefish, white salmon, lake and Caspian salmon, nelma, vendace);
• Far Eastern salmon (pink salmon, sockeye, sim, chum salmon, chinook salmon, coho salmon).

Their elongated body is covered with small scales, near the tail there is an adipose fin.

The meat of salmon fish is very tender and fatty, most individuals have red shades, but there are also representatives with white meat. Orange caviar is also actively used in gastronomy. Mostly salmon live in the Far East and North-West regions.

family of scumbroid fish

These include mackerel, tuna pelmidovye fish. They live in temperate, subtropical and tropical waters. The body is curved, covered with small scales, two fins are located on the back at a distance from each other.

family of scad fish

They have a body that is naked or with small scales, laterally compressed. Along the body there are horny outgrowths and a lateral line that curves sharply. An individual has 2 dorsal fins and one anal fin, next to the latter there are two spines.

These include:

• horse mackerel;
• trevally;
• pompano;
• vomer;
• lichia;
• seriola.

cod fish family

Relate:

• saithe;
• whiting;
• pollock;
• burbot;
• cod;
• haddock;
• navaga;

Cod fish have an elongated body, which is covered with small scales. The pelvic fins of cod fish are located above the pectoral, and in some individuals, in front of them. They also have 2 anal and 3 dorsal fins (except burbot) and a mustache on their chin. They live in the Pacific Ocean and its seas, as well as in the North Atlantic.

Codfish have few bones, they are tasty and have a marine flavor. They are used in every possible way: in the form of fillets, canned food, they are dried and smoked, and they also make delicacies from the liver and caviar.

/ Carp
Osteichthyes / Perciformes / Percidae / Stizostedion volgensis

Family CARP (Cyprinidae) Cyprinids are the most species-rich family of the carp suborder. Their mouth opening is bordered on top only by the premaxillary bones, which are movably connected to the maxillary bones. The mouth is retractable. There are no teeth on the jaws, but on the pharyngeal bones there are teeth located in one, two or three rows. On the lower surface of the skull (more precisely, on the process of the main occipital bone) there is a bone-horn-shaped cushion-like protrusion called a millstone, which, together with the pharyngeal teeth, serves to grind food. Antennae or no, or one or two pairs (the exception is the eight-whiskered gudgeon). In unpaired fins, which are supported by soft rays branched at the end, the first few rays are not branched (usually 2-4). The last non-branched ray (more often in the dorsal fin) may be thickened, turned into a spine, sometimes flexible at the end, sometimes serrated along the posterior edge. The swim bladder is usually large, consisting of two or even three chambers, the anterior part of the bladder is not enclosed in a bone capsule (the exception is some genera of minnows that live in the waters of the Amur and the rivers of China). The scales of cyprinids are cycloid, in some species it is completely absent (the body is naked). The carp family includes more than 1500 species belonging to 275 genera. Cyprinids inhabit the fresh waters of Africa, North America, Europe and Asia up to the "Wallace Line" - the zoogeographic border between the islands of Bali and Lombok in the Malay Archipelago. R Cyprinids were introduced to Australia at the end of the 19th century. There are no cyprinids in South America. Cyprinids are very numerous and diverse in Europe and Asia, especially in Southeast Asia, less diverse in Africa and North America. Cyprinids are relatively heat-loving fish. The number of species decreases towards the north. For example, 142 species of cyprinids are known in the Yangtze, 50 in the Amur, and only 10 in the Lena basin. A small number of species pass beyond the Arctic Circle in Eurasia - roach, dace, ide, crucian carp, minnow. The same picture is observed in North America: 49 species are known in the Great Lakes basin, in the basin of the river. Columbia - 16 species, in the upper reaches of the Yukon (the northern border of the distribution of cyprinids in America) - 1 species. Cyprinids can be divided into two large groups: the first group includes fish lacking antennae and having single-row and double-row pharyngeal teeth; the second group includes fish with three-row or two-row pharyngeal teeth, and many species of this group have antennae in the corners of the mouth. Fish of the first group (dace, roach, minnow, asp, podust, bream, etc.) are distributed mainly in Europe, in Asia to the north of the mountain ranges of Central Asia and the Amur basin. In North America, all cyprinids found there, with the exception of imported crucian carp and carp, belong to this group (notropis, gibopsis, campostoma, etc.). Fish of the second group (carp, crucian carp, barbel, minnow, marinka, Amur bream, skygazer, yellow-cheek, etc.) are found mainly in Southeast Asia, Africa, and a few species in Europe. If we proceed from the widely accepted position that the area where this group is represented by the largest number of species is considered the center of the origin of a particular group, then for cyprinids such a center is the southeastern part of Asia. Probably, cyprinids with multi-row pharyngeal teeth represent a more primitive group. The largest number of genera of cyprinids with three-row pharyngeal teeth is found in India (68% of the total number of genera of cyprinids living in this area), then in East Asia (19%), in Africa (37.5%), in Europe (9%) . Fossil remains of cyprinids in Europe are known from the Eocene (50-60 million years BC), in North America from a later time - from the Miocene (25-30 million years BC). Living conditions in the fresh waters of continental reservoirs are very different, and this is the reason for the huge morpho-ecological diversity of cyprinids. The sizes of cyprinids range from 6-8 to 150 and even 180 cm, but small and medium sizes predominate. Species reaching 80 cm or more are relatively few; they include, for example, skygazer, yellow-cheeked carp, carp, white and black carp, American ptychocheilus, some African labeos, Indian katlya and some others. In North America, cyprinids up to 10 cm long predominate, and therefore they are called small fry (minnow) there. In the water bodies of Europe, most of the cyprinids have a length of 20 to 35 cm. In the rivers of Asia, there are numerous both the smallest, up to 10 cm (eight-mouthed minnow, nosy minnow, mustard, discognath, etc.), species, and the largest - more than 80 cm of length (carp, Aral barbel, yellow-cheek, black and white carp, etc.).

The mouth opening is especially peculiar in species of the genus Osteochilus living in the reservoirs of Burma and the Malay Archipelago. In these fish, the mouth is directed forward and somewhat down. The upper and lower lips are well developed, covered with numerous papillae, but the lower lip does not cover the lower jaw, which protrudes somewhat forward and looks like a transverse protrusion with a sharp, hard edge. Thus, in Osteochilus there is a combination of soft lips with a sharp, cutting edge of the lower jaw. In addition, they have a pair of antennae in the corners of the mouth, and in some species a second pair of antennae, shorter, is located above the upper jaw. Fish with such a mouth can probably feed on both soft and hard bottoms. In species that forage on soft soils, the mouth is able to move forward and resembles a tube that penetrates deep into the silt and sucks in various small invertebrates: pusher mosquito larvae (bloodworm), oligochaetes. In our fauna, bream, tench, carp, gudgeon and some others have such a mouth. Carp (more than 12 cm), crucian carp (11 cm), tench (7 cm), and bream (5 cm) penetrate deeper into the silt. In many predators (asp, Mongolian redfin, trilobed, yellow-cheeked, etc.), a tubercle develops on the top of the lower jaw, which enters the corresponding notch located on the upper jaw. This adaptation helps predators capture and hold prey. In predatory species, the mouth extends very weakly, while in the yellow-cheeked species it does not extend at all. As already mentioned, cyprinids have no teeth on their jaws. The cyprinids only capture food with their mouths, and its grinding occurs in the pharynx when the food passes between the millstone and the lower pharyngeal teeth. Naturally, the structure and shape of the pharyngeal teeth are different in fish that feed on different foods. In asp, skygazer and other predatory cyprinids, the teeth have a hook at the end of the crown, which helps to capture and tear the tissues of the victim. The teeth of silver bream, roach, and especially black carp are characterized by the presence of a chewing platform that helps crush shells of mollusks, chitin of insect larvae, as well as tissues of higher plants. Knife-like teeth of a podusta, a silver carp help to compress small food - detritus, algae, various fouling - into a dense lump. In rudd and grass carp, the crowns of the pharyngeal teeth are serrated and look a bit like a saw. These species feed on underwater, and during floods, flooded terrestrial vegetation. In juvenile carp fish, the pharyngeal teeth have a different structure than in adults. As the fish grows, they change and only by the second year of life become similar to the pharyngeal teeth of adults. The pharyngeal teeth are replaced annually. The digestive tract of cyprinids has the form of an undifferentiated tube, the stomach is absent, and, consequently, there is no gastric enzyme pepsin that breaks down proteins. Food proteins are processed under the action of trypsin and enterokinase - enzymes secreted by the pancreas, intestinal glands and, unlike pepsin, are active not in an acidic, but in an alkaline environment. The length of the intestine varies widely. In predators and benthivorous species, the intestines are shorter than the length of the body, in omnivores it is equal to it or slightly larger, in detritivorous species it is 2-3 times the length of the body. Especially long (more than 10 times the length of the body) intestines of the silver carp.

Cyprinids eat a wide variety of food: benthic organisms not only on the surface, but from the depths of the soil by more than 10 cm; water column organisms (zooplankton, phytoplankton); higher vegetation; detritus (surface film of soil, consisting of decaying remains of animal and plant origin); fish, as well as air insects that accidentally fell into the water. Juveniles feed on zooplankton or, less commonly, small zoobenthos. As the fish grow, they switch to a different food. In general, the nature of the nutrition of individual species is very different. In addition, in each species, the composition of food changes with age and seasons of the year and depends on the nature of the reservoir. In the waters of Europe, most cyprinids (bream, silver bream, dace, gudgeon, etc.) feed on invertebrates living both in the ground and on various substrates (plants, stones, soil); some (bleak, sabrefish, common carp, bystrianka, top) feed on zooplankton and air insects; there are also those (chub, minnow, roach, ide, etc.) that feed on both animal and vegetable food. There are very few exclusively herbivorous or purely predatory fish among the cyprinids inhabiting the waters of Europe. The number of species of herbivorous and carnivorous cyprinids increases significantly in the water bodies of Southeast Asia. A relatively constant light regime, rather high and even water temperatures favor photosynthesis here, and algae and higher plants develop all year round. The death of vegetation contributes to the formation of detritus. During the monsoon rains, the water level in the rivers rises strongly and vast expanses of the floodplain, covered with grass and shrubs, are flooded with water. As a result, herbivorous fish receive an additional huge supply of food. And it is not surprising that the number of its consumers is also large in these places: first of all, detritus-eaters, then phytoplankton-eaters, and, finally, species that feed on higher plants. The relatively high temperature of the water facilitates the rapid digestion of large amounts of plant foods. Many of the herbivorous fish of Southeast Asia (grass carp, white bream, cirrins, rohu and other species of the genus Labeo) reach very large sizes, up to 60-120 cm in length, while the length of the largest herbivorous fish in European water bodies (gyudust, rudd) - about 40 cm. Diversity and a large number of peaceful fish probably to some extent determine the presence of a large number of predators. Predatory cyprinids, however, cannot capture large prey due to the lack of teeth and stomach. In low latitudes, there are many small species, their breeding period is extended, since the eggs in females and sperm in males do not mature all at once, but in portions. Therefore, in the reservoir there are always a lot of juveniles of various sizes. All this creates favorable conditions for feeding predatory fish. Among the predatory cyprinids of Southeast Asia, there are both rather small species, for example, the triangular (up to 20 cm), and large ones - skygazer (up to 100 cm), yellow-cheeked (up to 200 cm). In the waters of Europe, the typical predator is the asp. This is one of the largest fish among European cyprinids, it reaches 60-80 cm in length.

In South Asia and Africa, predatory cyprinids are species of the genus Barilius. In North and Central America, the pattern of distribution of ecological groups of cyprinids, differing in nutrition, is similar: zoobenthophages predominate at higher latitudes, and the number of phytophages (herbivores) increases when moving south. The breeding ecology of cyprinids is very diverse. The difference between individuals of different sexes (sexual dimorphism) in most species is manifested in the fact that females are larger than males. But in some species (for example, in the false gudgeon, the Amur chebachka and some others), the males guard the eggs; in this case, they are larger than females. Among the cyprinids, there are species with well-defined sexual dimorphism, in which it is not difficult to determine whether an individual belongs to one or another sex. For example, in the male tench, the outer rays of the ventral fins are strongly thickened; in males of some labeos (for example, Labeo dero), the dorsal fin is higher and more strongly carved than in the female; in males of some Puntius (Puntius), the lateral black spot differs in shape and brightness from that of females. In general, males are more often colored more brightly than females, especially during the spawning season. By this time, tubercles of keratinized epithelium appear on the head and body (in most cases only in males), usually they are milky white in color, and they are called pearl rash, marriage attire. It is assumed that the marriage attire has a functional significance during the spawning period. For example, during skirmishes between males or mating games, in this case, the tubercles develop mainly on the head; for contact between individuals of different sexes, tubercles bent backwards on the pectoral fins and along the body serve, which is especially important when spawning in fast streams. But this issue has not yet been studied enough.

Most cyprinids live in fresh waters, but some species are able to tolerate salinity of 10-14°/00, and one species - the Far Eastern rudd - is found even at oceanic salinity (32-33°/00). But they all lay their eggs in fresh water. Species that live in brackish areas of the seas and go to spawn in rivers are called semi-anadromous. Some of them (vobla, ram, bream, carp) enter the lower sections of the rivers, others (Aral barbel, carp, fish) make significant movements. In the latter case, the breeding attire of spawning spawners is more pronounced: a bright color appears. The Aral barbel has dwarf males; they do not leave the river and mature at a smaller size than anadromous males. Carp spawn quite a large number of eggs. No viviparous cyprinids were found. The existence of a viviparous species of the genus Puntius (Puntius viviparus) was refuted as a result of careful observations of its reproduction in aquariums. Cyprinids of temperate latitudes of the northern hemisphere spawn in the spring-summer period of the year. Females of some species lay eggs at the same time, while others - in several stages, in portions. As we move to low latitudes, the percentage of spawning species in portions increases, and the spawning period is extended. Most cyprinids have bottom sticky eggs. Some species lay their eggs on vegetation, others on stones, and still others on sand; finally, there are species that lay their eggs in bivalve shells. Some species have non-stick eggs. It rolls along the bottom or floats in the water column. The plant substrate (usually last year's or young vegetation), flooded with hollow waters, is found in relatively calm slow-flowing or stagnant parts of the reservoir. In the Volga delta, such areas of terrestrial vegetation, flooded with hollow waters, are called hollows, and at the mouth of the Don - borrowings. Usually, in hollows or lands, the depth ranges from 20-30 to 50-100 cm. Most often, the tops of herbaceous vegetation and its individual clusters (clumps) rise above the water. Under the rays of the spring sun, the water on the fields warms up quickly, and its temperature is much higher than the temperature of the water in the channel. So, if in the Volga bed the water temperature is 6-7°С, then on the hollows it reaches 15-16°С and more. Hollow waters are rich in nutrients (phosphates, nitrates, etc.). All this creates favorable conditions for the development of the smallest algae (phytoplankton) at first, and later zooplankton (ciliates, rotifers, small crustaceans that feed on phytoplankton). In turn, zooplankton organisms are excellent food for juvenile fish. The oxygen content of the water in the fields varies greatly depending on the time of day. In daylight, thanks to the photosynthesis of phytoplankton organisms and higher vegetation, oxygen is quite enough, especially in the upper layers of water. At night, due to the absorption of oxygen during respiration, as well as the decomposition of organic residues, the oxygen content in the water drops, and its deficiency often forms in the near-bottom layer and at the bottom. The cyprinids that breed on the fields spawn on the vegetation, the eggs stick to it at some distance from the bottom and therefore are in a layer that is relatively rich in oxygen. After a few days, larvae hatch from the eggs, which have positive phototaxis (strive for light) and, vigorously moving their tails, rise to the upper layers of the water, stumble on twigs and stick to them with the help of a secret secreted by the "cement" glands located on the head. larvae. Hanging on the plant, the larva goes through a dormant stage, which lasts until the yolk sac is absorbed from it. After that, the larvae separate from the plants, their swim bladder fills with air, and they begin to actively feed on ciliates, rotifers, small crustaceans, gradually switching to food characteristic of a particular species. With the beginning of the decline in the level of flood waters, the fish fry leave the hollow and enter the riverbeds, where they continue to feed and grow. Juveniles of semi-anadromous fish - roach, bream, carp, etc. - roll down to the pre-estuary areas of the sea, where they find abundant food and grow rapidly.

The species that lay eggs on vegetation include semi-anadromous species in our waters - vobla, ram, bream, carp; lake-river - roach, silver bream, bleak; pond - crucian carp, tench, top. In the tropical waters of Southeast Asia, these are species of the genera Puntius, Rasbora, and others. In the larvae of these fish, respiration is provided by a network of blood vessels in the fin fold and on the yolk sac. As the larvae grow, these temporary respiratory organs are replaced by gills. Many river species of cyprinids lay their eggs on stones located in places with strong currents. Caviar sticks to the stones, but usually after a while it breaks off and is carried by the current into the gaps between the stones and under the stones, where it develops. The fecundity of these fish, as a rule, is less than that of fish that lay eggs on vegetation, and the eggs are larger and their incubation period is longer, which is associated with lower temperatures. The hatched larvae are larger and more developed than the larvae from eggs laid on vegetation, and in contrast to the latter, they avoid light. They do not have gluing organs, and their larval circulatory system is less developed. After hatching from eggs, they usually hide under stones or other shaded places well washed by water with a high content of oxygen. After the absorption of the yolk sac and the filling of the swim bladder with air, they begin to actively feed on small animal organisms (ciliates, rotifers, larvae of small crustaceans), moving from small forms to larger ones as they grow. This group of cyprinids includes semi-anadromous fish that rise quite high in rivers for spawning: carp, fish, or syrt, shemaya, as well as typically river fish: dace, chub, podust, marinka and many others. Many species of minnows lay their eggs on the sand. The caviar is small, sticky, encrusted with grains of sand and completely invisible against the background of the bottom. Sometimes the eggs stick to stones or to the washed roots of coastal vegetation. The larvae that hatch then have large pectoral fins and a lower mouth. They are located on sandbanks, leaning on pectoral fins, and after a while they begin to feed on microscopic benthic organisms: shell rhizomes - diflugia, arcella, rotifers. This way of feeding is found only in rivers, where plankton - the food of young fish - is less developed than in lakes. Some cyprinids lay eggs in the water column. This is a floating or semi-floating caviar. The eggs are quite large, up to 4-5 mm in diameter. Floating eggs are transparent, and it is very difficult to notice them in the water column, where they develop. The circulatory system of larvae in such fish is usually less developed than in other groups of fish. Erythrocytes and pigmented formations appear late, while the swim bladder fills early. Thus, larvae from floating eggs retain their body transparency for a long time and lead a pelagic (in the water column) lifestyle. Cyprinids of this group are most numerous in the Amur basin and in the rivers of Southeast Asia. These areas are dominated by a monsoonal climate. In winter, the winds blow mainly from the colder land to the relatively warm sea, and in summer - from the sea to land. The snow cover in these areas is very small, and as a result, spring floods from snowmelt are low. On the contrary, summer-autumn floods as a result of monsoon rains are very large and cause a significant rise in the water level. The conditions for spawning of spring-spawning fish in the rivers of the monsoon climate are unfavorable: the hollow waters do not flood the coastal vegetation every spring, and there are years when these fish do not have the opportunity to spawn. In such a flood regime of rivers, fish with floating eggs have an advantage over those that lay their eggs on vegetation or on stones. In European rivers, only sabrefish lays floating caviar from cyprinids, and in Southeast Asia a number of species: skygazer, thrush, Amur bream, white and black carp, silver carp, many minnows, Indian river carps. Almost exclusively mustards lay their eggs in mollusk shells. The number of bitterling species is also increasing in the rivers of Southeast Asia. The fish of this group lay their eggs in the mantle cavity of bivalves, where they find a safe shelter from various predators and move along with their "moving spawning substrates" when the water level fluctuates. The development of caviar takes place in an exceptionally peculiar environment, and the appearance of a number of amazing adaptations is associated with this. The eggs of bitterlings are elongated, oval, with a highly concentrated yolk, development takes place in an environment with a low oxygen content and is very slow. The hatched larvae continue to develop due to the yolk in the mollusk shell. The embryonic respiratory system is very powerful, it is formed by a dense network of blood vessels on the yolk sac, on the fin fold. The larvae are afraid of light, and this protects them from premature exit from the mollusk shell. The bitterlings spawn a small number of eggs: the Asian prickly bitterlings are about 600, and the ordinary bitterlings are even smaller - no more than 100.

Most cyprinids do not care about their offspring, but still there are a number of species among them that protect eggs and even juveniles. Such, for example, are the false gudgeon, pseudo-parsing in the Amur basin and in the rivers of China and Korea. Many species, such as roach, specially prepare spawning areas. The spawning behavior of North American cyprinids has been fairly well studied. Thus, campostoma males (Campostoma apomalum pullum) dig the bottom, move stones, clear the spawning area from silt, build nests and actively protect them. A large male is kept in the nest, and small ones - near the nests. Females settle nearby, in deeper areas, and then head to the nests. Individuals of both sexes move from nest to nest, females leave nests before males, males linger, but then also leave. A typical group spawning is described for the rhynicht (Rhinichthys osculus). Males of this species build nests about 30 cm in diameter. There is a hierarchy among males: the dominant male stands on the nest, driving away others. Then many (up to 60) males enter the nest, and all of them work together to clean the nest. The female enters the nest and meets a group of males there. It is known that males of Notropis (Notropis analostanus) during spawning emit shock sounds - threat signals; sounds of a different kind - frequent blows and "purrs" - probably take place during mating games. Some American cyprinids, such as Hyborhynchus notatus and related species, some species of the genus Pimepholus, nest under boards, stones and other objects, and the males guard the eggs. Species of the genera Hybopsis, Semotilus, Campostoma, and others leave their nests immediately after spawning. The spawning behavior of fish is amazing in its perfection, in the precise coordination of all its details. Watching it, studying it is interesting not only for an ichthyologist, but also for every nature lover. External fertilization of eggs, close terms of reproduction of species belonging to the same ecological group, facilitate interspecific and even intergeneric crossing of cyprinids in natural conditions. In the waters of Europe, hybrids of carp and goldfish, rudd and bleak, rudd and silver bream, rudd and bream, roach and silver bream, roach and bream, bleak and silver bream, etc. are quite common. Some of them are probably prolific, for example, a hybrid of roach and bream . Sometimes hybrids found in natural conditions that are capable of reproduction are taken for independent species. Several such species have been described from water bodies of North America. A very large number of hybrids have been artificially obtained, which made it possible to study many family ties, since the ability to interbreed is usually considered as a sign of close relationship between species. Juveniles of many cyprinids and most species of small and medium size keep in flocks. For peaceful schooling cyprinids, the so-called startle reaction has been described. This reaction is manifested in the fact that if an extract from the skin of a representative of a given species or even another carp fish is dropped into a flock, then the flock breaks up. According to the degree of manifestation of the fear reaction, researchers judge the relationship between different species. It is interesting to note that in predatory fish that often eat individuals of their own species, the startle reaction is observed only in young individuals that feed on benthos (an experiment was done with the North American species Ptychocheilus oregonensis). The fright reaction is of great biological importance, since the death of one individual is a signal of an imminent danger to the flock, and the flock instantly disperses.

The commercial value of cyprinids is especially great in the countries of the former USSR and China, as well as in India, Burma and African countries. In the countries of the former USSR, semi-anadromous cyprinids are predominantly caught: roach, ram, carp, bream, shemaya, fish, mainly in the basins of the Azov, Caspian and Aral Seas. A lot of crucian carp is caught in ponds and lakes. The construction of hydroelectric dams on rivers and the formation of reservoirs significantly change the flow regime, water temperature and the amount of nutrients entering the hollow system of rivers flowing into our southern seas. This affects the state of stocks of semi-anadromous fish. To maintain their reserves, fish breeding and spawning farms (fish farms) have been created in the lower reaches of the rivers, and in reservoirs, shallow bays are separated from the main reservoir by dams with locks, creating areas with favorable conditions for fish spawning. The most important commercial cyprinids of China are carp, white and black carp, common and motley silver carp, crucian carp, bream, skygazer, redfin, yellow-cheek, etc .; India - katla, labeo, cirrhines, torus, puntiuses, etc.; countries of Africa - barbels (Barbus, different species), labeo, barils (Barilius), etc. Many cyprinids are the object of fishing for amateur fishermen. Small cyprinids are a good bait for catching predatory fish. Some species are specially bred by humans in ponds. The most common object of fish farming in Europe is carp - a breed bred by man. The ancestor of the modern European carp is the Danube carp. Common carp, carp are the most popular pond fish in the world. They are bred in Europe, in most Asian countries (in Vietnam, China, Korea, India, Cambodia, Thailand), in Ceylon, Malacca, the Philippines, in Australia; acclimatized them in the lakes of the United States. In China, in addition to carp and crucian carp, four types of fish are bred: white and black carp, common and motley silver carp. They are called domestic fish. Usually, juveniles of these species are planted in ponds, which are harvested in the river. Yangtze and its tributaries, and then transported throughout the country. Recently, they are moving to the incubation of eggs. In the fall, producers are caught, which are kept until spring. To obtain mature sexual products, producers are stimulated by pituitary injection. During the summer, juveniles are transplanted several times from pond to pond. Ponds are fertilized, and thus a high yield of products is achieved - up to 1500-2000 kg / ha. In India, many species are bred in ponds, mainly herbivorous species of barbel (Barbus), labeo (Labeo), cirrhina (Cirrhina) and catla (Catla catla). In Europe, carp, carp, tench, silver and golden carp, orfu are bred. At present, the breeding of herbivorous fish has been mastered: grass carp, silver carp, etc. The juveniles of these fish, caught in the rivers of China, as well as in the Amur, were brought to fish hatcheries: "Hot Key" of the Krasnodar Territory, in Karamet-Niyaz on the Karakum Canal and some others. They were reared in fish hatcheries, and then released into ponds and natural reservoirs and reservoirs. Now nurseries have been created in many regions of our country, where cupids and silver carps are bred. Of particular interest is the content of herbivorous fish in cooling ponds at thermal power plants. These ponds are heavily overgrown with aquatic vegetation, and the water exchange in them is disturbed: a large mass of water stagnates, and a small amount of flowing water does not have time to cool sufficiently. Herbivorous fish planted in such ponds eat all the vegetation and grow well. In the same way, herbivorous fish clean the canals drawn in the south of our country from vegetation, and they do it very effectively. Some brightly colored tropical species are popular with aquarium hobbyists. Various puntios, brachiodanios, zebrafish, cardinals, rasboras, etc. are widely known. But there is no species more popular than a goldfish - a form created by man. The original type of various forms of goldfish is the silver carp.

As part of the cyprinid family, groups of genera are distinguished, characterized by common features and sometimes considered as subfamilies. These groups also differ in the nature of distribution. Thus, chub-like genera are widespread in East and North Asia, North America and Europe, but are absent in Africa. Barbel-like genera are numerous in South Asia and Africa, and there are also in Southern Europe. Mustard-like and carp-like are common in Southeast Asia and Southern Europe. Minnow-like and chehon-like are numerous in Southeast Asia and are represented in Europe. Thick-browed are characteristic of Southeast Asia. Chub-like, or Yelts-like, cyprinids are less specialized than other groups. Their mouth is bordered by thin lips without a cartilaginous lining, usually without antennae, the dorsal and anal fins are small (6-14 branched rays) and do not contain spiny rays, the belly is rounded, without a keel, the intestinal canal is short. These include roaches, dace, chubs, cupids, mountain dace, minnows, rudd, asps, tops, tench, and podust in Europe and Asia. In North America, they are represented along with dace and American roach by a number of American genera, of which the largest size (up to 150 cm in length and 36 kg in weight) reaches the Western American ptychoheilus (Ptychoche-ilus), and the largest number (about 100 species) is represented by the genus Shiner , or Notropis (Notropis), widespread east of the Rocky Mountains.

The genus Roach (Butilus) is widely distributed in fresh and brackish waters of Europe and North Asia, and in America it is replaced by the American roach (Hesperoleucus). Roach is characterized by a terminal or semi-lower mouth, single-row pharyngeal teeth. It contains 7 or 8 species. To the genus of dace (Leuciscus) we have proper dace, chub, ide, Amur chebak, Far Eastern rudd, or Ugai. Fish of this genus have a relatively short anal fin, medium-sized scales, and two-row pharyngeal teeth. The genus contains about 50 species distributed in Europe (13 species), Asia (18 species, including 3-4 species of Euro-Asian), western and partly eastern North America (22 species). The most widespread are dace, chub and ide, represented in different parts of Europe and Asia, in addition to the main form, by local forms - subspecies. Close to roach, the genus Mountain Yelets (Oreoleuciscus), or, as they are also called, Altai Ottomans, is a peculiar group of carp fish. They have a limited distribution, inhabit the inland waters of Northwestern Mongolia, drainless lakes of the Mongolian Gobi, Southeastern Altai, some lakes of the Tuva Autonomous Republic and the upper reaches of the Ob (Chuya, a tributary of the Katun, and the Biya basin). In fish of this genus, sexual dimorphism is well expressed; in addition, the appearance of mountain dace changes greatly with age: for example, the relative size of the head increases greatly (unlike most cyprinids), and the position of the mouth changes. Altai Ottomans have a moderately elongated body, covered with small scales; along the lateral line the scales are somewhat larger. The mouth occupies a terminal or semi-lower position, but there are individuals with an upper mouth. The pharyngeal teeth are single row. Gill rakers are short, but can be thin, elongated. Altai Ottomans live in fresh and brackish lakes, as well as in rivers. Sometimes they are the only representatives inhabiting a particular lake, for example Lake Terekhol. The locals call this lake Osman. The largest size of mountain dace is 61 cm (lakes in the Chui river basin). There are 5 species in this genus, but some researchers consider them to be forms of the same species. The minnow genus (Phoxinus) contains a number of small (up to 20 cm) river and lake species. The body of minnows is covered with very small scales, the anal fin is short, and the pharyngeal teeth are two-row. The minnow genus unites about 10 species distributed in the fresh waters of Europe and North Asia. There are 8 species in Russia. The way of life of minnows is quite diverse. Most of them live in streams with clean, clear water, but there are those who prefer to live in heavily overgrown reservoirs with stagnant water, low oxygen content, such as lake minnow. The genus Rudd (Scardinius) contains two species: rudd (within Russia) and Greek rudd (S. graecus) in the lakes of southern Greece. The genus White Amur (Ctenopharyngodon, with one species of C. idella) is widespread in East Asia from the river. Amur to South China. Asps (genera Aspius, Aspiolucius, Pseudaspius) are predatory carp fish belonging to different genera. They all have a lot in common in body shape and lifestyle. The body is elongated, covered with rather small, densely set scales. True asps (genus Aspius) include common asp, or sheresper (A. aspius). and the second species of this genus (A. vorax), which is found in the river. Tiger. Pike asps (genus Aspiolucius) include two species: bald (A. esocinus) - a typical river species that lives in the flat course of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya, and Vietnamese bald (A. harmandti), living in the rivers of Vietnam. It differs from the common asp in its strongly flattened head and small eyes. Lysach Verkhovki (Leucaspius) - small fish, with relatively large scales, incomplete lateral line. There are 2-3 species of verkhovkas living in the reservoirs of Central and Eastern Europe and Transcaucasia. Tench (genus Tinea, with one species T. tinea) got its name from the word "molt", since, when taken out of water, it immediately changes color. Podust-like cyprinids are usually characterized by a transverse lower mouth; the lower jaw in many genera is pointed and covered with a cartilaginous sheath. The dorsal and anal fins are small (7-12 branched rays), usually without spines. There are no mustaches. The intestine is long, its length is 2-5 times the length of the body of the fish. Podust-like feed mainly on algal fouling of stones and detritus. This group of genera is common in Europe and North America. It includes European and American podusts. In European podusts (Chondrostoma), the mouth has the appearance of a transverse slit. The lower jaw is lined with cartilage and slightly pointed. The pharyngeal teeth are single-row, but shaped like, located 6 on each pharyngeal bone. The body cavity is lined with black epithelium. The genus Podust includes 18 species. 8-9 genera with 25 species belonging to the podust group lives in North America. Of these, the genus Hybognathus (9 species) is especially rich in species, in which the length of the intestine exceeds the length of the body by 3-10 times. The remarkable American genus Campostoma (Campostoma) adjoins the same group. The length of the intestines of the campostoma is 6-9 times greater than the length of the body of the fish; the intestines are surrounded by the swim bladder and the gonads (ovaries) in spiral turns, like a solenoid winding around the core. A similar structure of the viscera is observed among fish only in campostoma. Minnow-like cyprinids are small fish with a slender body, a short anal fin, no spines in the fins, and a short intestine. Most species have antennae. This includes pseudo-parsing and several genera of minnows. Gudgeon-like cyprinids are especially numerous and diverse in China, where there are at least 10 genera with 53 species. In Europe, minnows are represented by only one genus (Gobio) with 3-4 species. There are no minnows in South Asia and America. In Russia, there are 11 genera and 20 species of gudgeon-like fish, of which 11 genera with 14 species are found only in the Far East.

Minnows (genus Gobio, Gnathopogon, Pseudogobio, Paraleucogobio, Chilogobio, Saurogobio, Rostrogobio, Sarcochilichthys, Ladislavia, Gobiobotia) are mostly small fish that feed mainly on bottom animals, as well as phytobenthos. Many of them are easy to see, beautifully colored and of interest to aquarists. True minnows (Gobio) are the most widely distributed. They are found in Europe, in the rivers and some lakes of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Siberia, in the Amur basin, in the rivers of China, Korea. Representatives of other genera are found in the Amur basin, in the rivers of China, Korea, Japan, and in the lakes of Mongolia. There are about 20 species in this genus. Barbel-like cyprinids are numerous in the mountain rivers of North Africa and South Asia, and are also common in Central and Southern Europe, Western, Central and East Asia. They have short dorsal and anal fins (5-8 branched rays), and some have a serrated spine in the dorsal fin: most have antennae; the mouth is usually inferior or semi-inferior, and in many species the lower lip is covered with a cartilaginous sheath. The pharyngeal teeth are three-row. This group includes horses, barbels, marins, labeos, puntiuses, cirrins, katly, etc. Some reach a large size, over 1-1.5 m. Horses (Hemibarbus) look like barbels, but even more resemble minnows that have grown to oversized. In the corners of the mouth they have one pair of antennae; the dorsal fin has a smooth spine. There are 4 species in this genus, distributed in Mongolia (Lake Buir-Nur), in the Amur basin, in Korea, Japan, China, including Taiwan. Within Russia, in the Amur basin, two types of horses live. Barbels (Barbus) have two pairs of whiskers: one in the corners of the mouth, the other on the upper jaw. The dorsal fin has a serrated or, more rarely, smooth spine; three-row pharyngeal teeth are characteristic. This is the most extensive genus in terms of the number of species, its representatives are found in the tropical fresh waters of Africa, Asia and, to a lesser extent, in the temperate waters of Europe. Large representatives are of commercial importance. Some, such as B. cornaticus and B. hexagonalis, are grown in pond farms in India. In our waters there are 9 species of barbel found in the basins of the Black, Azov, Caspian and Aral seas. Among them there are river, passing and lake species. Khramuli (genus Varicorhinus) are also close to barbels. They differ in that the mouth opening occupies a lower position, has the form of a transverse slit. The lower jaw is pointed, often covered with a horny cap and serves to scrape off vegetation. The pharyngeal teeth are three-rowed, their crowns are strongly compressed, spatulate. The dorsal fin has a spine, often serrated along the posterior edge. Usually one pair of antennae, but sometimes two. The peritoneum is black, the intestines are long: 5-6 times the length of the body. About 25 species are found in Africa, Asia Minor, Transcaucasia, Syria, Iran, Turkmenistan, the Aral Sea basin, North India, South China. Very close to the barbels are the Puntiuses (genus Puntius), which until recently did not separate from the barbels. Unlike the barbels, most types of puntius do not have antennae at the corners of the mouth and are small in size, no more than 10 ate in length. Puntius are widespread, diverse and numerous in the fresh waters of Africa, India, Ceylon, China, Indochina and Indonesia.

In a special genus Barbodes (Barbodes) allocate four-horned Puntius. Close to barbels and numerous in Africa, India and Burma Labeo (Labeo), also common in Syria, China, Indochina and Indonesia. In body shape, the species of this genus are similar to barbels, from which they are well distinguished by the structure of the mouth. The mouth of the labeo is usually lower, transverse or crescent-shaped. The lips are thick, lined on the inside with a fine horny coating; in the corners of the mouth there are folds with horny edges, and in front of the upper lip, many have a special lobe hanging from the snout. With the help of such a device, the mouth turns into a kind of scoop with a suction apparatus; many labeos dig in soft silt, sucking in organic residues along with the organisms in it. The snout is usually protruding, often covered with papillae. Cirrhines (Girrhina) have similar features and lifestyle to the Labeo. This genus includes 8-10 species distributed in India, Burma, China, Indochina. Cirrhines are distinguished by a wide transverse mouth with poorly developed lips. The lower jaw is rather sharp, with a small tubercle in the middle, devoid of any horny covering. Antennae small, 1-2 pairs, but may be absent. Scales are large, medium, small. Gill rakers are short. It is also necessary to mention the widespread in South Asia and Africa, but absent in our waters mainly predatory cyprinids - barylia. Barilias (genus Barilius) differ from barbels in having a large terminal mouth and a low lateral line. Most species have transversely elongated dark spots or stripes on their sides. Barilia hunt for fish fry, usually kept in small flocks. Not reaching large sizes (the length of most species does not exceed 8-25 cm), they themselves play a significant role in the nutrition of predatory fish in Africa; local fishermen widely use them as good bait. Purely pelagic plankton-eating fish are Engraulicypris living only in African lakes. These are small fish, up to 10 cm long, somewhat reminiscent of anchovy or anchovy in appearance, which is reflected in their Latin name. Their snout is protruding and pointed, like an anchovy; big eyes; a short dorsal fin is located above the anal. The back is light yellow-brown, the sides and belly are cast in silver. In water, they are almost transparent, except for a bright yellow tail. Engrauliciprises stay in flocks at the very surface of the water, feed on falling insects and their larvae living in the water. Insects at different stages of the life cycle and plankton are the main food of these interesting fish. Several species of engraulicipris are known. Of great interest are blind cave barbels living in Africa (Coecobarbus - in one of the caves of the Congo, Eilichthys and Phreatichthys - in the underground water basins of Somalia). These fish are blind, their skin is completely colorless and devoid of scales.

Discognaths, garras, discolabeos and several other genera are very peculiar, distinguished by the presence of a special sucker in the form of a small disk on the lower jaw, directly behind the lower lip. These fish have adapted to life in fast mountain streams, in oxygen-rich water. They are common in Western, South and Southeast Asia and Northeast Africa. Discognaths (Discognathichthys) are small, up to 10 cm, fish with a peculiar biology. They have a lower mouth, semicircular or transverse; the lower jaw is pointed and covered with cartilage; the upper jaw also has a cartilaginous lining. The upper lip is thin, the lower one is more or less developed at the corners of the mouth, and a pair of antennae is also located there. The most characteristic sign is the presence on the chin of a kind of suction disk with a free rear edge. Thanks to the suction disk, these fish can live in very fast mountain streams. Among other adaptive features for life in such reservoirs, a small swim bladder can be noted. Species of this genus live in the mountain streams of Asia, Abyssinia. Garrs (genus Garra) are very close to discognaths, but have two pairs of antennae. The ventral fins are enlarged, fan-shaped, the ventral surface of the external rays is changed, which ensures the suction of fish to rocks, pebbles and other objects in mountain streams and rivers. The way of life is the same as that of discognaths.

A special group of split-bellied, or marinka-like, cyprinids includes marinki, osmans, nagortsy and several other genera, including about 30 species of fish. In fish of this group, the anus and the anterior part of the anal fin are bordered by folds of skin that form a slit or "cleft". The scales on the folds of the skin are enlarged compared to the scales on other parts of the body and form a kind of border on the sides of the "split". The bellies are found only in the waters of Central and Central Asia from Turkmenistan and Eastern Iran in the west to Yunnan. Scatter-bellies live in mountain rivers and lakes. Probably, many of the features that characterize these fish arose as important adaptations to life in mountain waters. It is assumed that "split" is important during spawning on fast currents and rocky ground, and the black peritoneum plays the role of a screen that protects the sex glands from excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays, which are so abundant in highland areas. Within the group, features of specialization are clearly visible, which are clearly manifested in species that have climbed higher into the mountains. Specialization goes in the direction of reducing the number of rows of pharyngeal teeth, antennae, and scale cover. The least specialized are marinkas. Marinka (Schizothorax) are common in the rivers flowing from the Kopetdag, the upper reaches of the Syrdarya and Amudarya basins, in the basin of Lake Balkhash, the river. Tarim, in the upper reaches of the rivers of India, Indochina, in the Yangtze and the lakes of Tibet. Although the marinka climb quite high into the mountains, they do not reach the typical mountain areas, but inhabit lakes, middle rivers and foothills. Small scales completely cover the body, the lateral line is complete. The pharyngeal teeth are three-row. The last, unbranched ray in the dorsal fin in most species is a rather weak spine with barely visible denticles (denticles are more visible in young specimens). The color of the body varies greatly, but grayish-yellowish, olive-greenish tones, characteristic of bottom-dwelling fish, predominate. Ottomans (Diptychus) differ in the nature of the scale cover. The body of the Ottomans is covered with small, non-overlapping scales, sometimes so few and very scattered that they can be found only above the base of the pectoral fins. And only along the lateral line the scales are located throughout the entire length of the body. The pharyngeal teeth are two-row. Mouth lower, with one pair of barbels at the corners of the mouth. Within our country there are 2 species. Uplanders (Schizopygopsis) include about 20 species of fish, very close to the Ottomans, but differing from the latter in the absence of antennae. The body is almost naked, the scales are preserved only along the lateral line, at the base of the pectoral fins, framing the "split".

Quite a few species of carp fish belong to the group of bream-like. Almost all fish of this group have a keel not covered with scales on the belly: the anal fin is elongated, having from 10 to 44 branched rays; no jagged spiny ray in dorsal and anal fins; no antennae; intestine is short. This group includes mainly demersal, usually more or less high-bodied benthivorous fish and plankton-eating fish living mainly in the upper layers and in the water column, which are distinguished by a lower purlin body. Benthivorous bream-like fish - inhabitants of the temperate waters of Europe, Central Asia, are also found in North America (American breams of the genus Notemigonus, close to European ones). In our waters, they are represented by European bream, silver bream, syrt and fish, razor. European breams (Abramis, in the genus 3 species - bream, white-eye, blue bream) are characterized by a laterally compressed body and a long anal fin containing from 15 to 44 branched rays. On the belly, between the anal and ventral fins, there is a keel, not covered with scales. Pharyngeal teeth single row, 5 on each side. The caudal fin is strongly notched, the lower lobe is longer than the upper one. Breams are common in Central and Northern Europe, in the Caucasus, in the Aral Sea basin and in Asia Minor.

Shemai, bleaks, and bystrianka are predominantly planktivorous fish. The leathery keel on their belly, which is not covered with scales, is small and in shemai it usually does not reach half the distance between the anal fin and the base of the pelvic fins. The lower jaw protrudes forward. Shemai (Chalcalburnus) are a bit like bleaks, but reach larger sizes, 22-40 cm. Several species with many subspecies belong to this genus, distributed in the basins of the Black, Caspian and Aral Seas, in Lake Van, in the Tigris and Euphrates basin and in Southern Iran. Bleaks (Alburnus) have an elongated, rather laterally compressed body and a relatively long anal fin (10-20 branched rays). Between the ventral and anal fins, the belly is pointed and bears a keel in the form of a thin leathery fold, not covered with scales. The lateral line has the form of a gentle arc. The pharyngeal teeth are two-row. The scales are relatively large, thin and delicate, with a light touch it falls off and sticks to the hands, which was the reason for their name. There are about 6 species distributed in Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, Syria and Northern Iran. Quicktails (Alburnoides) are close to bleaks, but differ from them in a higher body, non-serrated pharyngeal teeth. This genus includes several species that live in the waters of Europe, Western and Central Asia. The chehon-like cyprinids, like the bream-like ones, have a keel on the belly that is not covered with scales. The coloration of most is silver; the lateral line is usually curved downwards, in some it is straight. Most have three-row teeth, a few have two-row teeth. There are no mustaches. The swim bladder is bifid or tripartite. The caviar is semi-pelagic. 24-25 genera and about 80 species belong to the chehon-like ones. Most live in the rivers of Southeast Asia, only one sichel is common in Europe and in the Aral Sea basin. Bleak, or skygazers (Culter, not to be confused with bleak - Alburnus), have a well-defined keel on the belly, not covered with scales, stretching from the pectoral fins to the anus. They have an upper mouth. Sharp belly (Hemiculter) - small fish found in the Amur basin, in the rivers of China, Vietnam, West Korea. The genus contains 4-5 species.

Very close to European sichel are Indian sichel (genus Oxygaster, Chela), up to 10 species of which live in the rivers of India, Pakistan, Burma, Indochina. They do not reach the size of sabrefish, usually up to 15-25 cm long. They are important as larvicidal fish, destroying mosquito larvae, and are valued as tasty fish. Blackbellies (Xenocypris) outwardly resemble the common podust, but differ in that the last unbranched ray of the dorsal fin is strongly thickened and turned into a smooth spike, flexible at the top. The pharyngeal teeth are three-row. The length of the black bellies does not exceed 30 cm. Four species of this genus are known in China. Yellowfin (Plagiognathops) is close to the black-bellies (which are often also called yellowfins), but its color is brighter. Skygazers (genus Erythroculter) have a keel on their belly behind their pelvic fins. Rasbora is common in East Africa, South and East Asia, the Philippines and Indonesia. In total, about 30 species of rasbor are known, with more than half from Indonesia. Danio and Brahidanio (genus Danio, Brachidanio) are distributed almost throughout India (except for the northern part), Burma, Malaysia and Indonesia. These are small, slender, very mobile schooling fish, usually equipped with two pairs of antennae. Many species are very beautiful and are popular with aquarists. These fast moving fish should be kept in elongated aquariums, well planted with plants, at a water temperature of 22-24°C, in winter at 18-21°C. Zebrafish species are distinguished by a slightly higher body, large sizes, up to 10-15 cm; a complete lateral line and a large number of rays in the dorsal and anal fins. Ezomus (genus Esomus) - small fish of heavily overgrown small fresh water bodies of India, Burma, Indochina. They are characterized by two pairs of very long thin antennae, the length of which in some species exceeds half the length of the body. There are about 5 species of esomus, reaching a length of 6 to 15 cm. These are small fish with a rather high, laterally compressed body, an elongated dorsal fin (8-14 branched rays) and a short anal fin. Their pharyngeal teeth are single row. There are 5 genera of mustards with 24 species. Only one of them is common in Europe, all the rest live in the waters of East Asia - in the Amur basin, in China, Korea, and Japan.

In carp-like cyprinids of our fauna, the dorsal fin is long (11-22 branched rays), the anal fin is short (5-8 rays). The last, unbranched ray in the dorsal and anal fins is notched. The intestine is long, 1.5-2 times longer than the body. This includes carp and carp. Carp (Cyprinus) are distinguished by a wide, thick body, covered with dense large scales, and a long, slightly notched dorsal fin. The dorsal and anal fins each have a jagged bone ray, and a pair of antennae each in the corners of the mouth and on the upper lip. The pharyngeal teeth are three-rowed, with flat, furrowed corollas. They easily grind plant tissues, destroy seed coats, and crush shells of mollusks. This genus includes three species: two live in the fresh waters of China, and the third species - carp - has a very wide range. Carp (Carassius) are represented by two species that, like carp, have a long dorsal fin, spiny rays in the dorsal and anal fins, but differ in the absence of antennae and single-row pharyngeal teeth. Quite apart from the groups (subfamilies) of cyprinid fish described above are the thick-browed ones. Silver carps differ from all other cyprinids in the shape of the head, with a wide, convex forehead and low-set eyes, shifted to the sides of the head below the middle of its height. They are also characterized by small scales, a short dorsal fin, and the absence of spiny rays in the dorsal and anal fins. This group includes the Amur silver carp, or tolbiga, the South Chinese motley silver carp, and, apparently, the tinnichts of India, Indochina, the islands of Kalimantan and Sumatra. Tinnichthys are common in India (one species), Thailand and Indonesia (3 species). Indian tinnicht, or sandkhol (T. sandkhol), is a silvery fish with a reddish head, reaching sexual maturity at a length of 30.5 cm and spawning in rivers when they become full-flowing during monsoon rains (June - September).

White Amur (Ctenopharyngodon idella) General Information: White Amur (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is a fish of the carp family. The birthplace of the White Amur (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is East Asia, where it is distributed from the river. Amur to South China. The introduction of the White Amur (Ctenopharyngodon idella) into the water bodies of the USSR began in the first half of the 60s, when it was acclimatized in order to […]

African Barbus Despite the existence of numerous species of African barbs, they are rare in aquariums. This is explained by the fact that a number of species are either too large in size or not interesting in color. Barbodes ablabes grows up to 10 cm in length. Males are smaller than females, slenderer, with more pronounced orange patches on the fins. Fish willingly spawn as in pairs, […]

Barbus - Sumatranus (Capoeta tetrazona tetrazona) lives in Sumatra, in Thailand, in Kalimantan (Borneo). Since its introduction to Europe in 1935, it has been constantly found in aquariums. Reaches 7 cm in length. The ventral paired fins of males are intense red, the upper part of the stigma is reddish, the dorsal fin has an intense red edging. APPEARANCE. Like all barbs, […]

White-eye (Sopa) (Abramis sapa) Description: White-eye (Abramis sapa) (Sopa) is a fish of the carp family. Length up to 35 cm, weight up to 1 kg. Outwardly similar to a bream, but has a more flattened and elongated body. The snout is thick, blunt, swollen. The eyes are large (up to 30% of the length of the head) with a white-silver iris (hence the name). Gill rakers are long and thick. […]

Quicksand (Alburnoides bipunctatus) Description: Quicksand (Alburnoides bipunctatus) - this little-known fish in our country is very similar to common bleak, but at first glance it differs from it by two dark stripes running along the middle of the body, on the sides of the so-called. lateral line, and the fact that it is noticeably wider and hunchbacked. This blackish stripe starts from the eyes and, […]

Verkhovka (Leucaspius delineatus) is a fish of the carp family. Length 4-5, occasionally up to 8 cm, weight up to 7 g. It looks like a small bleak, from which it differs in a wider body and head, a short lateral line (distributed to the first 2-12 scales). A network of sensitive tubules enters the head, located in groups: on the upper part, under the eyes, on the prelids. In the dorsal fin […]

Skygazer (Erythroculter erythropterus) is a freshwater fish. It is found in the waters of China from the Yangtze in the south to the river. Cupid in the north, lives on the island of Taiwan, in West Korea, in Liaohe. This fish is widespread in the Ussuri River and Lake Khanka. The skygazer prefers to stay mainly in the water column. It reaches a length of about 102 cm and a mass of 9 kg. Predatory fish. Eats […]

Vladislavia (Ladislavia taczanowskii) is common in the upper and middle reaches of the Amur basin, mainly in rivers and streams of the foothill type, preferring open shallow areas with a fairly fast flow, pebble or sandy-pebble soil, sometimes overgrown with sparse vegetation. It easily scrapes diatoms and detritus from rocks and compacted soil with its pointed, cartilaginous lower jaw. Intestinal tract […]

Vobla (lat. Rutilus rutilus caspicus) - fish of the Caspian Sea, is an important subject of fishing on the lower Volga; is a subspecies of the roach. It differs from river roach in larger size (up to 30 cm or more) and some minor morphological features (gray fins with black trim and silver iris with dark spots above the pupils). Distribution Vobla is endemic […]

Ostrobelly (Hemiculter leucisculus) is distributed throughout the range of the genus, with the exception of West Korea; forms a number of subspecies (three in the Amur basin: typical, Buirnor, Khanka). The length of the wasp is up to 18 cm. This small silvery fish in appearance and in its way of life in many respects resembles bleak in European rivers. Ostrobelly is a schooling pelagic fish that lives both in lakes and […]

We present a list of the most common freshwater (river) fish. Names with photos and descriptions for each river fish: its appearance, fish taste, habitats, fishing methods, time and method of spawning.

Pike perch, like perch, prefers only clean water, saturated with oxygen and contributing to the normal life of the fish. This is a pure fish without any ingredients. The growth of pike perch can be up to 35 cm. Its maximum weight can reach up to 20 kg. Pike perch meat is light, without excess fat and very tasty and pleasant. It contains a lot of minerals, such as phosphorus, chlorine, chlorine, sulfur, potassium, fluorine, cobalt, iodine, as well as a lot of vitamin P. Judging by the composition, pike perch meat is very healthy.

Bersh, like pike perch, is considered a relative of perch. It can grow in length up to 45 cm, with a weight of 1.4 kg. It is found in rivers that flow into the Black and Caspian Seas. His diet includes a small fish, like a minnow. The meat is almost the same as that of pike perch, although a little softer.

The perch prefers reservoirs with clear water. These can be rivers, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, etc. Perch is the most common predator, but you will never find it where the water is muddy and dirty. Quite thin gear is used for perch fishing. His fishing is very interesting and entertaining.

The ruff has a peculiar appearance with very prickly fins, which protects it from predators. Ruff also loves clean water, but depending on the habitat, it can change its shade. It grows in length no more than 18 cm and gains weight up to 400 grams. Its length and weight directly depend on the food supply in the pond. Its habitat extends to almost all European countries. It is found in rivers, lakes, ponds and even seas. Spawning is carried out for 2 days or more. Ruff always prefers to be at a depth, as he does not like sunlight.

This fish is from the perch family, but few people know it, since it is not found in such an area. It is distinguished by an elongated spindle-shaped body and the presence of a head with a snout protruding forward. The fish is not large, not more than one foot long. It is found mainly in the Danube River and adjacent tributaries. Her diet includes various worms, mollusks and small fish. The chop fish spawns in the month of April with caviar of a bright yellow hue.

This is a freshwater fish that is found in almost all water bodies of the globe, but only in those that have clean, oxygenated water. With a decrease in the concentration of oxygen in the water, the pike dies. Pike grows in length up to one and a half meters, with a weight of 3.5 kg. The body and head of the pike is characterized by an elongated shape. No wonder it is called an underwater torpedo. Pike spawning occurs when the water warms up from 3 to 6 degrees. It is a carnivorous fish and feeds on other fish species such as roach etc. Pike meat is considered dietary because it contains very little fat. In addition, there is a lot of protein in pike meat, which is easily absorbed by the human body. Pike can live up to 25 years. Its meat can be stewed, fried, boiled, baked, stuffed, etc.

This fish lives in ponds, lakes, rivers, reservoirs. Its color is largely determined by the composition of the water that is available in this reservoir. In appearance, it is very similar to the rudd. The diet of roach includes various algae, larvae of various insects, as well as fish fry.

With the advent of winter, roach goes to wintering pits. Spawns later than pike, somewhere at the end of spring. Before spawning begins, it is covered with large pimples. The caviar of this fish is quite small, transparent, with a green tint.

The bream is an inconspicuous fish, but its meat is characterized by excellent taste indicators. It can be found where there is still water or a weak current. Bream lives no more than 20 years, but grows very slowly. For example, a 10-year-old specimen can gain weight no more than 3 or 4 kilograms.

The bream has a dark silver tint. Average life expectancy is 7 to 8 years. During this period, it grows up to 41 cm in length and has an average weight of about 800 g. The bream spawns in spring.

This is a sedentary type of fish with a bluish-gray color. The bream lives for about 15 years and grows up to 35 cm in length, with a weight of 1.2 kg. Gustera, like bream, grows rather slowly. Prefer ponds with stagnant water or a slow current. In spring and autumn, the silver bream gathers in numerous flocks (dense flocks), hence it got its name. The white bream feeds on small insects and their larvae, as well as mollusks. Spawning takes place at the end of spring or beginning of summer, when the water temperature rises to +15ºС-+17ºС. The spawning period lasts from 1 to 1.5 months. The meat of the bream is considered not tasty, especially since it contains a lot of bones.

This fish is distinguished by a dark yellow-golden hue. It can live up to 30 years, but already at 7-8 years old, its growth stops. During this time, the carp manages to grow up to 1 meter in length and gain weight of 3 kg. Carp is considered a freshwater fish, but it is also found in the Caspian Sea. Its diet includes young shoots of reeds, as well as caviar of spawned fish. With the advent of autumn, its diet expands and various insects and invertebrates begin to enter it.

This fish belongs to the carp family and can live for about a hundred years. Can eat undercooked potatoes, breadcrumbs or cake. A distinctive feature of cyprinids is the presence of a mustache. Carp is considered a voracious and insatiable fish. Carp lives in rivers, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, where there is a muddy bottom. The carp loves to pass the pliable mud through its mouth in search of various bugs and worms.

Carp spawns only when the water begins to warm up to a temperature of +18ºС-+20ºС. Can gain weight up to 9 kg. In China it is a food fish, and in Japan it is an ornamental food.

A very strong fish. Many experienced anglers are engaged in fishing for this, using powerful and reliable gear for this.

Carp is the most common fish. It is found in almost all water bodies, regardless of the quality of the water and the concentration of oxygen in it. Crucian carp is able to live in water bodies where other fish will immediately die. It belongs to the carp family, and in appearance it is similar to carp, but does not have a mustache. In winter, if there is very little oxygen in the water, crucian carp hibernates and remains in this state until spring. The crucian spawns at a temperature of about 14 degrees.

Tench prefers ponds with dense vegetation and covered with dense duckweed. Tench is well caught from August, until the onset of real cold weather. Tench meat has excellent taste characteristics. No wonder the tench is called the royal fish. In addition to the fact that tench can be fried, baked, stewed, it makes an incredible fish soup.

The chub is considered a freshwater fish and is found exclusively in fast-flowing rivers. It is a member of the carp family. It grows up to 80 cm in length and can weigh up to 8 kg. It is considered a bold fish, as its diet consists of fish fry, various insects, and small frogs. It prefers to be under trees and plants hanging over the water, since various living creatures very often fall into the water from them. Spawns at temperatures from +12ºС to +17ºС.

Its habitat includes almost all rivers and reservoirs of European states. Prefers to stay at depth, in the presence of a slow current. In winter, it shows the same activity as in summer, since it does not hibernate. Considered to be a fairly hardy fish. It can have a length of 35 to 63 cm, with a weight of 2 to 2.8 kg.

Can live up to 20 years. The diet consists of both plant and animal foods. Ide spawning occurs in the spring, at a water temperature of 2 to 13 degrees.

It is also a member of the family of carp fish species and has a dark bluish-gray color. It grows in length up to 120 cm and can reach a weight of 12 kg. Found in the Black and Caspian Seas. Selects areas with fast currents and avoids stagnant water.

There are sabrefish with silvery, grayish and yellow coloring. It can gain weight up to 2 kg, with a length of up to 60 cm, it can live for about 9 years.

Chehon is growing very fast and gaining weight. Found in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and seas such as the Baltic Sea. At a young age, it feeds on zoo- and phytoplankton, and with the advent of autumn, it switches to feeding on insects.

It is easy to confuse rudd and roach, but rudd has a more attractive appearance. Over the course of 19 years of life, it is able to gain weight of 2.4 kg, with a length of 51 cm. It is found mostly in rivers that flow into the Caspian, Azov, Black and Aral Seas.

The basis of the diet of the rudd is food of plant and animal origin, but most of all it likes to eat caviar of mollusks. A fairly healthy fish with a set of minerals such as phosphorus, chromium, as well as vitamin P, proteins and fats.

The podust has a long body and it chooses areas with a fast current. It grows in length up to 40 cm and at the same time has a weight of up to 1.6 kg. Podust lives for about 10 years. It feeds from the bottom of the reservoir, collecting microscopic algae. This fish is distributed throughout Europe. Spawns at a water temperature of 6-8 degrees.

Bleak is an ubiquitous fish, known to almost anyone who has ever fished with a fishing rod in a pond. The bleak belongs to the family of carp fish species. It can grow to small sizes in length (12-15 cm) with a weight of about 100 grams. It is found in rivers flowing into the Black, Baltic and Azov Seas, as well as in large reservoirs with clean, not stagnant water.

It is a fish similar to the bleak, but slightly smaller in size and weight. With a length of 10 cm, it can weigh only 2 grams. Able to live up to 6 years. It feeds on algae and zooplankton, while growing very slowly.

It also belongs to the family of carp fish species, and it has a spindle-shaped body. It grows in length up to 15-22 cm. It is carried out in reservoirs where there is a current and there is clean water. The gudgeon feeds on insect larvae and small invertebrates. Spawns in spring, like most fish.

This type of fish also belongs to the carp family. Feeds almost food of plant origin. It can grow in length up to 1 m 20 cm and weigh up to 32 kg. It has a high growth rate. White carp is distributed throughout the world.

The diet of the silver carp consists of microscopic particles of plant origin. It is a large representative of the carp family. This is a heat loving fish. The silver carp has teeth that can grind vegetation. It lends itself easily to acclimatization. Silver carp is grown artificially.

Due to the fact that it grows rapidly, it is of interest for industrial breeding. Can gain up to 8 kg of weight in a short time. For the most part, it is distributed in Central Asia and in China. It spawns in spring, loves water areas where there is an intense current.

This is a very large representative of freshwater reservoirs, capable of growing up to 3 meters in length and weighing up to 400 kg. Catfish has a brown tint, but does not have scales. Inhabits almost all water bodies of Europe and Russia, where there are appropriate conditions: clean water, the presence of aquatic vegetation and a suitable depth.

This is a small representative of the catfish family, which prefers small reservoirs (channels) with warm water. In our time, it was brought from America, where there are quite a lot of it and most anglers are engaged in catching it.

Its spawning occurs in conditions when the water temperature reaches +28ºС. Therefore, it can be found only in the southern regions.

It is a fish from the river eel family and prefers freshwater reservoirs. This is a snake-like predator that is found in the Baltic, Black, Azov and Barents Seas. Prefers to be in areas with a clay bottom. Its diet consists of small animals, crayfish, worms, larvae, snails, etc. Able to grow in length up to 47 cm and gain weight up to 8 kg.

This is a heat-loving fish that is found in water bodies located in large climatic zones. Its appearance resembles a snake. A very strong fish that is not so easy to catch.

It is a representative of cod-like fish and looks like a catfish in appearance, but it does not grow to the size of a catfish. This is a cold-loving fish that leads an active lifestyle in winter. Its spawning also occurs during the winter months. It hunts mainly at night, while leading a benthic lifestyle. Burbot refers to industrial species of fish.

This is a small fish with a long body, covered with very small scales. It can easily be confused with an eel or a snake if you have never seen one in your life. It grows in length up to 30 cm, or even more, if growth conditions favor. It is found in small rivers or ponds where there is a muddy bottom. It prefers to be closer to the bottom, and on the surface it can be seen during rain or thunderstorms.

The char belongs to the salmon family of fish species. Due to the fact that the fish does not have scales, it got its name. Grows to a small size. Its meat under the influence of low temperatures does not decrease in volume. It is characterized by the presence of fatty acids, such as omega-3, that can resist inflammatory processes.

It lives in rivers and feeds on various types of fish. Distributed in the rivers of Ukraine. Prefers shallow water areas. It can grow in length up to 25 cm. It reproduces by caviar, at a water temperature within + 8ºС. After spawning, it can live no more than 2- + x years.

The life expectancy of this fish is considered to be about 27 years. It grows in length up to 1 m 25 cm, gaining weight up to 16 kg. It is distinguished by a dark gray-brown color. In winter, it practically does not feed and goes to the depths. It has a valuable commercial value.

This fish lives only in the basin of the Danube arm and is not common anywhere else. It belongs to the family of salmon fish species and is a unique representative of the fish fauna of Ukraine. Danube salmon is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine and it is forbidden to catch it. Can live up to 20 years, feeds mainly on small fish.

It also belongs to the salmon family and prefers rivers with a rapid current and cold water. It grows in length from 25 to 55 cm, while gaining weight from 0.2 to 2 kg. The diet of trout includes small crustaceans and insect larvae.

It is a representative of the Evdoshkov family, reaches a size of about 10 cm, while gaining a weight of 300 grams. It occurs in the basins of the Danube and Dniester rivers. At the first danger, it burrows into the silt. Spawning occurs in March or April. Likes to eat fry and small invertebrates.

This fish is caught on an industrial scale in Edver, the Urals. Spawns at temperatures not higher than +10ºС. This is a predatory fish species that loves fast-flowing rivers.

This is a freshwater species of fish that belongs to the carp family. It grows up to 60 cm in length and gains up to 5 kg of weight. The fish has a dark color and is common in the Caspian, Black and Azov seas.

River fish without bones

Virtually no bones

• in maritime language.
• In fish of the sturgeon family, belonging to the chordate order.

Despite the fact that the water has a certain density, the body of the fish is ideally suited for movement in such conditions. And this applies not only to river, but also to sea fish.

Typically, her body has an elongated, torpedo-like body shape. In extreme cases, her body is spindle-shaped, which contributes to unhindered movement in the water. These fish include salmon, podust, chub, asp, sabrefish, herring, etc. In still water, most fish have a flat flattened body on both sides. These fish include carp, bream, rudd, roach, etc.

Among the many species of river fish, there are both peaceful fish and real predators. They are distinguished by the presence of sharp teeth and a wide mouth, which makes it easy to swallow fish and other living creatures. Such fish include pike, burbot, catfish, pike perch, perch and others. Such a predator as a pike during an attack is capable of developing a huge initial speed. In other words, she literally instantly swallows her victim. Predators such as perch always hunt in packs. Pike perch leads a benthic lifestyle and starts hunting only at night. This testifies to his uniqueness, or rather, his unique vision. He is able to see his prey in absolute darkness.

But there are also small predators that do not differ in the large size of their mouths. Although, such a predator as an asp does not have a huge mouth, such as a catfish, for example, and it feeds only on fish fry.

Many fish, depending on habitat conditions, may have a different shade. In addition, in different reservoirs there may be a different food base, which can significantly affect the size of the fish.

(lat. Cyprinidae) - fish from the order Cypriniformes (Cypriniformes). The body of fish of the cyprinid family is covered with scales, rarely naked. The upper jaw, as a rule, is bordered by one premaxillary bones. There are no teeth on the jaws. The lower pharyngeal bones are enlarged, sickle-shaped, usually with one to three rows of pharyngeal teeth. There are no antennae near the mouth or there are no more than two pairs (only one genus Gobiobotia has four pairs). Dorsal fin one. The auditory bones are connected to the swim bladder by a chain of bones (Weber's apparatus). In males (less often in females) of many species during the spawning period, small white warts appear on the head and upper body (nuptial attire).

Carp family- freshwater fish. Only a few of them tolerate brackish water and are common in the Caspian, Aral, Azov and Baltic Seas, and one species, the Far Eastern rudd (Leuciscus brandti), comes across in sea water of normal oceanic salinity.

Fish of the carp family spawn in fresh water, but single species (Aral shemaya, Caspian carp) are able to breed in brackish water.

Fishes carp families distributed in the fresh waters of Europe, Africa, Asia, North and Central America (to the south to 17 ° N latitude). There are no cyprinids in South America, Madagascar and Australia.