Abstract:
The studies on the osteology of caudal skeleton and the ray counts showed
that the twenty one species of Cyprinidae studied fall into three groups, one containing
four 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 skeleton
containing six free hypurals, three epurals and sixteen or more branched rays.
The second group which is the major group with sixteen species has lesser primitive
type of caudal skeleton with six hyupurals, two epurals and sixteen or more
branched rays. The third group with one species has an advanced caudal skeleton
with five free hypurals, two epurals and fifteen or sixteen branched rays.
