| Gyrinocheilus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Gyrinocheilus aymonieri | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Gyrinocheilidae T. N. Gill, 1905 |
| Genus: | Gyrinocheilus Vaillant, 1902 |
| Type species | |
| Gyrinocheilus pustulosus Vaillant, 1902
| |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Gyrinocheilops Fowler, 1937 | |
Gyrinocheilus is the single genus in the family Gyrinocheilidae, a family of small Southeast Asian cypriniform fishes that live in fast-flowing freshwater mountain streams.[1] The species in this genus are commonly called algae eaters. They hold on to fixed objects using a sucker-like mouth, and, despite the name, feed on a wide range of detritus, rather than simply on algae.[2] A "golden" variety of G. aymonieri, the Chinese algae eater or "sucking loach", can be found in many pet shops and fish farms.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Gyrinocheilidae". FishBase. March 2007 version.
- ^ Banister, Keith F. (1998). Paxton, J. R.; Eschmeyer, W. N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 100. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.