Squaliobarbinae


Squaliobarbinae is a small subfamily of the carp and minnow family, Cyprinidae, which consists of three monotypic genera which have their natural distributions in eastern Asia. Two species, the grass carp and the black carp, have been introduced to other parts of the world for weed control and aquaculture. They are large cyprinids which are characterised by an enlarged subtemporal fossa, the palate articulating with the supraethmoid, an enlarged intercalar bone in the cranial vault and a divided levator posterior muscle.

Genera

The three genera which make up the subfamily Squaliobarbinae are:
ImageGenusLiving Species
Ctenopharyngodon Steindachner, 1866
Mylopharyngodon Peters, 1881
  • black carp, Mylopharyngodon piceus
    • Squaliobarbus Günther, 1868
  • Barbel chub, Squaliobarbus curriculus

    • Taxonomy

    Cyprinids are a large, widespread and diverse family of, mainly, freshwater ray-finned fish and the taxonomy of the family has not yet been fully resolved. Fishbase recognises Squaliobarbinae as a valid subfamily but recent studies suggest that this may not necessarily be the case in the future. For example, the three genera of this subfamily have been placed in the larger subfamily Oxygasterinae and Squaliobarbinae is listed as a synonym of Oxygasterinae in a 2013 paper by Tang, Lumbantobing & Mayden. and the World Register of Marine Species treats all three taxa traditionally placed in Squaliobarbinae as incertae sedis. while the Catalog of Fishes places them in the subfamily Xenocyprinae. However, at whatever level they are classified the three squaliobarbine taxa appear to be closely related and to form a clade. and have been referred to as the tribe Squaliobarbini.