Interrelationships among genera of cyprinidae (teleostei) as indicated by the caudal skeleton

Abstract

The studies on the osteology of caudal skeleton and the ray counts showedthat the twenty one species of Cyprinidae studied fall into three groups, one containingfour species, the other with 16 species and third group with one species.The first group with four species has the most primitive type of caudal skeletoncontaining six free hypurals, three epurals and sixteen or more branched rays.The second group which is the major group with sixteen species has lesser primitivetype of caudal skeleton with six hyupurals, two epurals and sixteen or morebranched rays. The third group with one species has an advanced caudal skeletonwith five free hypurals, two epurals and fifteen or sixteen branched rays.