Misgurnus | |
---|---|
Misgurnus fossilis | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cypriniformes |
Family: | Cobitidae |
Genus: |
Misgurnus Lacepède, 1803 |
Misgurnus is a genus of loaches from Europe and Asia. Commonly known as weatherfishes or weather loaches, they are commonly eaten in Asia, while some have found their way into the aquarium trades and sold as pets. The origin of the name Misgurnus comes from the Greek word miseo (to hate) and the Turkish gür (thunder), a name given to them due to their habit of becoming very active during barometric pressure changes that occur during thunderstorms.
There are currently seven recognized species in this genus: