| The Cyprinid family is the largest and most ecologically diverse family of freshwater fishes. This family includes minnows, carp, goldfish, and barbs. North America alone boasts over 290 species of minnows, not to mention carp. Cyprinids occur throughout the Americas, Africa, and Eurasia. They are found in a wide variety of habitats in streams, rivers and lakes throughout the world. Cyprinids are prolific spring-spawners that broadcast adhesive eggs over aquatic plants and other substrate. Carp can lay up to two million eggs at a time! Some species of chubs build gravel nests to spawn over, while others are find cavities in river banks or other structure. Most minnows are omnivorous, using their characteristic pharyngeal teeth for grinding weeds, insects, and other foods from the sediment. |
