Editing Cyprinidae (section)

==Biology and ecology==
Cyprinids are stomachless, or ''agastric'', fish with toothless jaws. Even so, food can be effectively chewed by the [[gill raker]]s of the specialized last gill bow. These [[pharyngeal teeth]] allow the fish to make chewing motions against a chewing plate formed by a [[Process (anatomy)|bony process]] of the [[skull]]. The pharyngeal teeth are unique to each species and are used to identify species. Strong pharyngeal teeth allow fish such as the [[common carp]] and [[ide (fish)|ide]] to eat hard baits such as [[snails]] and [[bivalves]].

Hearing is a well-developed sense in the cyprinids since they have the [[Weberian organ]], three specialized vertebral processes that transfer motion of the [[gas bladder]] to the inner ear. The vertebral processes of the Weberian organ also permit a cyprinid to detect changes in motion of the gas bladder due to atmospheric conditions or depth changes. The cyprinids are considered [[physostome]]s because the [[pneumatic duct]] is retained in adult stages and the fish are able to gulp air to fill the gas bladder, or they can dispose of excess gas to the gut.

[[File:Giant Barb.jpg|thumb|[[Giant barb]]s (''Catlocarpio siamensis'') are the largest members of this family.]]
Cyprinids are native to [[North America]], [[Africa]], and [[Eurasia]]. The largest known cyprinid is the [[giant barb]] (''Catlocarpio siamensis''), which may grow up to {{cvt|3|m|ft}} in length and {{cvt|300|kg|lb}} in weight.<ref name=C.sFishbase/> Other very large species that can surpass {{cvt|2|m|ft}} are the [[golden mahseer]] (''Tor putitora'') and [[Mangar (fish)|mangar]] (''Luciobarbus esocinus'').<ref>{{FishBase | genus = Tor | species = putitora | year = 2017 | month = March}}</ref><ref>{{FishBase | genus = Luciobarbus | species = esocinus | year = 2017 | month = March}}</ref> The largest North American species is the [[Colorado pikeminnow]] (''Ptychocheilus lucius''), which can reach up to {{cvt|1.8|m|ft}} in length.<ref>{{FishBase | genus = Ptychocheilus | species = lucius | year = 2015 | month = March}}</ref> Conversely, many species are smaller than {{cvt|5|cm|in|0}}. The [[Smallest organisms#Fish|smallest known fish]] is ''[[Paedocypris progenetica]]'', reaching {{cvt|10.3|mm|in}} at the longest.<ref>{{FishBase | genus = Paedocypris | species = progenetica | year = 2015 | month = March}}</ref>

All fish in this family are [[Oviparity|egg-layers]] and most do not guard their eggs; however, a few species build nests and/or guard the eggs. The bitterlings of subfamily [[Acheilognathinae]] are notable for depositing their eggs in bivalve [[Mollusca|molluscs]], where the young develop until able to fend for themselves.

Cyprinids contain the only known example of [[androgenesis]] in a vertebrate, in the [[Squalius alburnoides]] [[allopolyploid]] complex.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Morgado-Santos |first1=Miguel |last2=Carona |first2=Sara |last3=Vicente |first3=Luís |last4=Collares-Pereira |first4=Maria João |title=First empirical evidence of naturally occurring androgenesis in vertebrates |journal=Royal Society Open Science |year=2017 |volume=4 |issue=5 |pages=170200 |doi=10.1098/rsos.170200 |pmid=28573029 |pmc=5451830 |bibcode=2017RSOS....470200M |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Most cyprinids feed mainly on [[invertebrates]] and [[vegetation]], probably due to the lack of teeth and stomach; however, some species, like the [[Asp (fish)|asp]], are predators that specialize in fish. Many species, such as the [[ide (fish)|ide]] and the [[common rudd]], prey on small fish when individuals become large enough. Even small species, such as the [[moderlieschen]], are opportunistic predators that will eat larvae of the [[common frog]] in artificial circumstances.

Some cyprinids, such as the [[grass carp]], are specialized herbivores; others, such as the [[common nase]], eat algae and [[biofilm]]s, while others, such as the [[black carp]], specialize in snails, and some, such as the [[silver carp]], are specialized [[filter feeders]]. For this reason, cyprinids are often introduced as a management tool to control various factors in the aquatic environment, such as aquatic vegetation and diseases transmitted by snails.

Unlike most fish species, cyprinids generally increase in abundance in [[eutrophic]] lakes. Here, they contribute towards positive feedback as they are efficient at eating the [[zooplankton]] that would otherwise graze on the algae, reducing its abundance.