Cyprinds belong to the order Cypriniformes and the family Cyprinidae.   This order includes over 1,700 species and 220 genera of minnows and carp. The Cyprind family is the largest in the world, representing over 1400 species. The fish of this family are distributed throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America and live almost exclusively in freshwater. Cyprinds are to Asia as Characins are to South America.   They inhabit almost every habitable body of water throughout Asia. Characteristics of Cyprinds include "pharyngeal teeth, " teeth used to grind food; a lack of an adipose fin; and the presence of barbels on many species.   Cyprinds range greatly in size; from Danionella translucida at 0.4" (1 cm) to the large Barbus tor, which reaches the length of 6 feet (1.8 m).