Vyunova distributed worldwide, but unevenly.There are in Central Asia, Europe (except North), Africa and Southeast Asia.Loach are not found in Australia, the Americas, in the rivers of the basin of the Arctic Ocean.However, species are constantly migrating, and the situation could change.Freshwater fish
Russia were described in detail the famous zoologist and popularizer of the 19th century, LPSabaneyev.About habits, lifestyle and some specifics Cobitidae we know from his work.
Classification
loaches are numerous group carps.In turn, the family divided into three subfamilies: vyunopodobnye, goltsopodobnye and botsiepodobnye.By vyunopodobnym include private loach, including the most widespread in our country - ordinary and spined.Goltsopodobnyh has about 15 genera;This subfamily demonstrates the greatest "open-mindedness": some members of the group prefer cold fast-flowing mountain streams, other (blind loach) - Standing water caves.
Botsiepodobnye creepers are widespread in Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.It is in these countries found the oldest representatives of loaches.Botia and leptobotsii come to Europe as aquarium fish.The genus is Botsiev famous clown, which can be found at any pet store.The whole family of loaches are not too plentiful, but ichthyologists continue to discover new species, and to this day.
General characteristics
loaches live and feed on the bottom.This feature is determined by the appearance of the loach: all members of the family have an elongated body, or bruskovatoe ribbonlike, sometimes - a little flattened head.His mouth Cobitidae located below.The dorsal fin is short.Scales mainly very small and thoroughly coated with mucus, which protects the body from damage loach.However, there are also completely naked fish.Eyes are small.In some species, they are covered with a transparent skin (again, for protection).Obligatory attribute of each family member - antennae.There may be from 3 to 6 pairs.Nostrils loach are elongated tube.Botia loach and have podglaznye retractable spikes.Thrust of the spike can cause inflammation.Podglazny spike - a relatively effective measure against birds of prey.
Fish Cobitidae family does not like bright light and activated closer to the night.Overall creepers secretive and inactive (this does not apply only to some loaches).Many members of the family have a penchant for burying into the mud or sand.There they not only prey on small crustaceans and larvae, and wait out bad times - such as drought.
Here is Misgurnus fossilis, or common eel.Photography gives a good idea of the location of tactile whiskers:
most common eel
Misgurnus fossilis, inhabiting silted ponds and wetlands rivers in many European countries - the most famous member of the family.Sabaneyev wrote that Russian fishermen they largely neglected because of their small size (about 25 cm), although in some provinces (eg, MG), eel was popular as a tasty and readily available ingredients for soup.In Germany, it was decided to brew beer or vinegar.Also loach dried for winter.
eel In fact, not only shallow, but not particularly attractive: it is covered with mucus, and being pulled from the water, frantically wriggling and squealing.All fish loaches family has the ability to breathe atmospheric air by typing it into his mouth, and passing through the posterior part of the intestine.Last, and is a subsidiary of the respiratory organs.When the air goes, it is heard a specific sound, like a squeak.Due to intestinal breathing very creepers are viable: they may be more than a week in a bucket of stale water, if it is to cover the hay.Therefore loach often stockpile for future use as bait for the big fish: catfish, burbot, pike, eel.
Interesting features
actually really tasty eel: its meat soft, fat and quickly cooked.Asians (Japanese and Indonesians) are not only mined, but even some species are bred for eating loaches.In Europe and loach loaches catch the bait (in the summer) and traps (in the winter).Fish family Cobitidae prefers animal food: small crustaceans, larvae of caddis, eggs, worms and molluscs.Incidentally, eel copes with mosquitoes (or rather their larvae): if the dig at their summer cottage pond and settle its loach, suffer from annoying insects are no longer necessary.
Finally, loach widely used as a barometer.He is very sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure: floats to the surface, protrudes from the water, and generally behaving nervously, that it is not typical.Viun even can "predict" earthquakes.
Exotic loaches in aquariums
In the 19th century, it became fashionable to keep fish at home, organize exhibitions and share experiences.The villagers caught the common freshwater fish and delivers them live in Moscow and St. Petersburg.However, as you know, Russia freshwater fish are relatively few.Aquarists wanted more variety.Thus arose the demand for exotic fish.But Asian creepers appeared in Russia only in the second half of the 20th century.The first were akantoftalmusy (subfamily vyunopodobnye) and Botia (subfamily botsiepodobnye).Like their European cousins, "Asians" different motley coloring characteristic of bottom fish.The most common version of it - a combination of yellow and black (gray) spots or stripes.
A typical akantoftalmus, wormlike striped eel.Photography is not the best, but all signs Cobitidae (variegated color, mustache, body shape, short dorsal fin) is available:
Botsiya clown
most famous ornamental fish of loaches - a botsiya clown (the name appearsexplains bright, "cheerful" striped coloring and the movable character).Motherland of this fish - Kalimantan and Sumatra.The body of the clown - surprisingly short, compact for loach, torpedo, with triangular reddish fins.Typically, the length is not more than 17 cm. Externally, the clowns are reminiscent of South American catfish, Corydoras - due to similar lifestyles.
These loaches have antennae and podglazny spike, they are omnivores, cheerful and peaceful.Although these fish are also able to intestinal breathing, they are more than the European creepers, depending on the purity of the water and its oxygen saturation.Also, they can not settle territorial, aggressive fish (eg cichlids) and drugs to treat copper.But on the whole clown loach - unpretentious fish.
