Cyprinidae

Cyprinidae ('carps'), a large family of fresh-water bony fishes in the order Physostomi, with open swim-bladders. Barbel, Bream, Carp, Chub, Dace, Gold-fish, Gudgeon, Minnow, Roach, Tench, are familiar examples. They are distinguished from their neighbours by their small toothless mouths, naked head, usually scaled body, and by the absence of the adipose fin. The family includes over a hundred genera, and eight times as many species. They are widely distributed, most abundant in north temperate regions, absent from Australia and South America. They are voracious, very fertile, and frequently hibernate. See CARP, &c.