Vertebrate Zoology - V. M. Konstantinov 2011

Chordates
Gnathostomes
Class Osteichthyes - Subclass Actinopterygii - Superorder Teleostei - Order Cypriniformes

Like herrings, cypriniforms are relatively primitive teleost Fishes, though Skull ossification is more advanced in this group. The swim bladder is connected to the gut. Fins are typically soft-rayed. They possess the Weberian apparatus—a chain of small bones connecting the anterior portion of the swim bladder to the membranous labyrinth of the Inner ear. Unlike salmonids, they are predominantly freshwater fishes, with fewer anadromous species, inhabiting mainly temperate and tropical regions. They populate A wide variety of aquatic habitats, ranging from mountain streams to swampy ponds. While most lead a sedentary lifestyle (such as roach, ide, tench, and crucian carp), some undertake spawning Migrations (such as the Caspian roach and the Azov-Black Sea roach). The order Cypriniformes is primarily composed of two families: Cyprinidae and Siluridae.

The family Cyprinidae is characterized by the absence of jaw Teeth and the presence of so-called pharyngeal teeth, situated on the posterior branchial arch, which serve to crush the chitinous and calcareous shells of their prey. They are the most abundant and diverse fish of freshwater ecosystems. Notable representatives include the river and lake roach (Rutilus rutilus), the anadromous Caspian-Volga roach (R. rutilus caspius), the anadromous Black Sea roach (R. r. heckeli), the ide (Leuciscus idus), the anadromous Volga-Caspian bream (Abramis brama), the common carp or wild carp (Cyprinus carpio) and its domesticated form (the koi/carp), the crucian carp (Carassius carassius), and the tench (Tinca tinca), among others.

The family Siluridae comprises scaleless fish with toothed jaws. These are predatory species. Two species inhabit Russian waters, occurring in the rivers of the southern half of the country and coastal marine areas. The largest specimens can reach 250–300 kg, though smaller individuals are more commonly caught.

Alongside the aforementioned species, this order also includes bleaks, piranhas, loaches, and others.



Last update: 13/08/2026

Editorial and Educational Adaptation: This material has been compiled based on the primary/original source text. The project team performed an editorial review, corrected technical inaccuracies, structured sections, and adapted the content for an educational format.

What was processed:

  • elimination of formatting defects (OCR errors, structural breaks, corrupted characters);
  • editorial organization of content;
  • standardization of terminology in accordance with academic sources;
  • verification of factual statements against the original source text.

All mentions of the author, publication year, and origin of the primary text have been preserved in accordance with the source.