Schizothorax

a genus of fishes of the family Cyprinidae. The body is curved and covered with small scales; the anal fin and the anal opening have a series of larger scales. The pharyngeal teeth are triserial, and there are two pairs of barbels. The underside is black. The body is up to 1 m long and weighs up to 12 kg. The fishes are found in rivers and lakes in Central Asia, Middle Asia, and Kazakhstan. Spawning occurs in the spring in rivers; the sticky eggs are deposited on the bottom. Some species of Schizothorax, such as the Hi marinka (Schizothorax pseudaksaiensis) and S. esocinus, feed on other fish; others, such as the common marinka (S. intermedius), feed on invertebrates. Some species, including the Balkhash marinka (S. argentatus), feed on plants. The fishes, which are of some commercial importance, are caught primarily in Lakes Balkhash and Issyk-Kul’. The black film on the roe and on the raw underside of all species is poisonous.