Labeonins or labeoins are fish of the subfamily Labeoninae (or the tribe Labeonini, when subsumed into subfamily Cyprininae), which are ray-finned fishes in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. They are freshwater fish, with the greatest species richness in the region around southern China, though they are present throughout subtropical and tropical Asia as well as equivalent regions in Africa. They are a generally very apomorphic group, perhaps the most "advanced" or derived of the Cyprinidae.
Anatomically, the labeonins are distinguished by traits of the Weberian apparatus contacting the skull with the supraneural bones, and its basioccipital process being concave in cross-section. The first vertebra has a parapophysis that is elongated to forward and partially overlaps the basioccipital process. The fourth vertebra, meanwhile, has a short but stout transverse process that is prominently elongated ventrally; the os suspensorium is often hidden behind if viewed from the side. In the skull, the frontal and sphenotic bones have prominent foramina. In the anal fin, the first pterygiophore is elongated and has well-developed anterior and posterior flanges, with the former very large and concave at the distal end. Most labeonins have the skinny flap of the underside of the snout well-developed into a fleshy cap that at least partially hides the upper lip except when feeding, and a similar structure at the lower lip. (2007): An overview of labeonin relationships and the phylogenetic placement of the Afro-Asian genus Garra Hamilton, 1922 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), with the description of five new species of Garra from Ethiopia, and a key to all African species. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 150(1): 41-83. PDF fulltext
Notable genera include Crossocheilus, Epalzeorhynchos and Garra, which contain some of the popular aquarium fishes often called "algae eaters", e.g. the Siamese algae-eater (Crossocheilus siamensis) along with "pedicure fish" such as Garra rufa. Labeo – the type genus of this subfamily – contains many sizeable species which are often used as food.
Taxonomy This clade include the group sometimes separated as Garrinae, but these do not seem to be that distinct. In fact, the entire Labeoninae is merged into the Cyprininae by a number of authors; in any case, these two and the former "Barbinae" form a close-knit group whose internal phylogeny is far from resolved. If the subfamily is considered distinct, it is typically split in the tribes Labeonini (which are able to swim well in open water) and Garrini (which are mostly benthic), and sometimes in addition the Banganini (which are somewhat intermediate in habitus); this classification is however not based on genetic studies. If the labeo lineage is included in the Cyprininae, it becomes the tribe Labeonini, while its two (or three) subdivisions are the subtribes Labeoina, Garraina and perhaps Banganina. (2007): Evolutionary origin of Lake Tana's (Ethiopia) small Barbus species: indications of rapid ecological divergence and speciation. Anim. Biol. 57(1): 39-48. (HTML abstract) (2008): Molecular phylogenetics of the family Cyprinidae (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes) as evidenced by sequence variation in the first intron of S7 ribosomal protein-coding gene: Further evidence from a nuclear gene of the systematic chaos in the family. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 46(3): 818–829. PDF fulltext
Genera Labeoninae contains the following genera:
Ageneiogarra Garman, 1912 Altigena Burton, 1934 Bangana Hamilton, 1822 Barbichthys Bleeker, 1860 Ceratogarra Kottelat, 2020 Cirrhinus Oken, 1817 Cophecheilus Y. Zhu, E. Zhang, M. Zhang & Y. Q. Han, 2011 Crossocheilus Kuhl & van Hasselt, 1823 Decorus Zheng, Chen & Yang, 2019 Diplocheilichthys Bleeker, 1859 Discocheilus E. Zhang, 1997 Discogobio S. Y. Lin, 1931 Epalzeorhynchos Bleeker, 1855 Fivepearlus C.-Q. Li, H. Yang, W. Li & H. Chen 2017 Garra Hamilton, 1822 Garroides V. H. Nguyễn & T.H.N. Vũ, 2014 Guigarra Z.-B. Wang, X.-Y. Chen & L.-P. Zheng 2022 Gymnostomus Heckel, 1843 Henicorhynchus H. M. Smith, 1945 Hongshuia E. Zhang, X. Qiang & J. H. Lan, 2008 Incisilabeo Fowler, 1937 Labeo Cuvier, 1816 Labiobarbus van Hasselt, 1823 Lanlabeo M. Yao, Y. He & Z.-G. Peng, 2018 Linichthys E. Zhang & Fang, 2005 Lobocheilos Bleeker, 1854 Longanalus W. X. Li, 2006 Mekongina Fowler, 1937 Osteochilus Günther, 1868 Paracrossochilus Popta, 1904 Parapsilorhynchus Hora, 1921 Paraqianlabeo H.-T. Zhao, Sullivan, Y.-G. Zhang & Z.-G. Peng 2014 Parasinilabeo H. W. Wu, 1939 Placocheilus H.-W. Wu, 1977 Prolixicheilus L.-P. Zheng, X.-Y. Chen & J.-X. Yang, 2016 Protolabeo L. An, B. S. Liu, Y. H. Zhao & C. G. Zhang, 2010 Pseudocrossocheilus E. Zhang & J.-X. Chen, 1997 Pseudogyrinocheilus P.-W. Fang, 1933 Pseudoplacocheilus X. Li, W. Zhou, C. Sun & X. Yun, 2024 Ptychidio Myers, 1930 Qianlabeo E. Zhang & Yi-Yu Chen, 2004 Rectoris S.-Y. Lin, 1935 Schismatorhynchos Bleeker, 1855 Semilabeo Peters, 1881 Sinigarra E. Zhang & W. Zhou, 2012 Sinilabeo Rendahl, 1933 Sinocrossocheilus H.-W. Wu, 1977 Speolabeo Kottelat, 2017 Stenorynchoacrum Y. F. Huang, J. X. Yang & X. Y. Chen, 2014 Supradiscus X. Li, W. Zhou, C. Sun & X. Yun, 2024 Tariqilabeo Mirza & Saboohi, 1990 Thynnichthys Bleeker, 1859 Vinagarra V. H. Nguyễn & T. A. Bùi, 2009 Zuojiangia L.-P. Zheng, Y. He, J. X. Yang & L.B. Wu 2018
Phylogeny The following is a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree from a study of a combined genetic dataset, from Zheng et al. 2012, with binomial names updated and well-recovered clades labeled with A, B, C, and D:
References