Misgurnus - True Loaches

Classification

Genus: Misgurnus - True Loaches
Family: Cobitidae - True loaches
Order: Cypriniformes - Carps
Class: Actinopteri - Ray-finned fishes
Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes

Description

Misgurnus is a genus of true loaches found in Europe and Asia. The origin of the name Misgurnus comes from the Greek word miseo (to hate) and the Turkish gür (loud), a name given to them due to their habit of becoming very active during barometric pressure changes that occur during thunderstorms. The common names, weather loach or weatherfish, also derive from this behavior. Some species of misgurnus are eaten, mostly in Asia, and are also sold as pets in the aquarium trade. Their average size can range for 6 to over 12 inches.

There are currently seven recognized species in this genus:

  • Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Cantor, 1842) (pond loach,oriental weatherfish)
  • Misgurnus buphoensis R. T. Kim & S. Y. Park, 1995
  • Misgurnus fossilis (Linnaeus, 1758) (weatherfish)
  • Misgurnus mohoity (Dybowski, 1869)
  • Misgurnus multimaculatus Rendahl (de), 1944
  • Misgurnus nikolskyi Vasileva, 2001
  • Misgurnus tonkinensis Rendahl (de), 1937

Species

Weatherfish
(Misgurnus fossilis)

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