| A new classification expressing the interrelationships among families of the Cypriniformes is proposed. There are two great groups of cypriniform fishes, the Cobitidoidea, consisting of all non-cyprinid cypriniforms (Gyrinocheilidae, Catostomidae, Cobitididae, and Homalopteridae), and the Cyprinidae.; Cobitidoid monophyly is supported by an anterolateral process of the lateral ethmoid, palatomaxillary elements, interconnection of the preopercular and infraorbital laterosensory canals, and by an infraobital series with the first infraorbital as the largest element and the second and third infraorbitals greatly reduced.; Within the Cobitidoidea monophyly of a catostomid-cobitidid-homalopterid group is supported by segmentation of the third copula of their basibranchial series into basibranchials 4-6, of which basibranchial 4 is characteristically shaped. Cobitidids and homalopterids together are a monophletic group as shown by their possession of an ossified basibranchial 4, ossified palatomaxillary elements, a transersus ventralis V process on their ceratobranchial V, and size relationships within their epibranchial series. The Noemacheilinae as now known probably are not monophyletic. Nonetheless all noemacheilines are more closely related to fishes of the Homalopterinae than they are to cobitidids. Ellopostoma is postulated as the sister group of the Homalopterinae (homalopterins and gastromyzontins). Monophyly of the Homalopteridae, including the Noemacheilinae, is supported by a consolidation of their infrapharyngobranchial series, basihyal and basibranchial shape, and a free preopercualr laterosensory canal.; Monophyly of the Cyprinidae (including Psilorhynchus) is supported by their capacious subtemporal fossa, ceratobranchial V morphology, the relationship between the infrapharyngobranchial series and the first epibranchial, and a distinctive circumorbital series. |
