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.