Gyrinocheilus
| Gyrinocheilus | |
|---|---|
| Gyrinocheilus aymonieri | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Suborder: | Gyrinocheiloidei Betancur-R, et al., 2017 |
| 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. 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. A "golden" variety of G. aymonieri, the Chinese algae eater or "sucking loach", can be found in many pet shops and fish farms.