Researchers from many countries are now focusing their efforts on collaborative studies of anatomy, species diversity and conservation, genomics, taxonomy, and systematics of many different groups of fishes. Those focusing efforts on the Cypriniformes are no exception to this general phenomenon.

There are many very important reasons for persons interested in the Cypriniformes to unite as a community and work together to address many important academic and applied issues. One of the leading impediments to advancing basic knowledge of these fishes and their use as exemplars in many academic and applied areas is a lack of access to species diversity needed in studies.

Because --

1. of the great diversity of species in this order,
2. there is significantly more species diversity (predicted to be roughly 2,000) to be discovered,
3. obtaining samples of some species is very difficult,
4. the species diversity in this order also includes diversity in many phenotypic and genetic features,
5. and these fishes offer tremendous opportunities for using them as model systems in many disciplines (academic and applied)

-- we offer the venue of this symposium as an avenue for researchers to provide opportunities for sharing samples of species that are needed for specific research.

The intention of the Cypriniformes Exchange is to allow persons from various disciplines to communicate as to their needs for species and specimens that will enable more thorough and meaningful research on the group. It is expected that when researchers share specimens and materials that along with the exchange will come true collaboration in research studies and publications of results, development of educational materials, development of web materials, etc.

It is hoped that aquarists, breeders, aquaculturists, educators, and scientits alike will participate in this exchange opportunity, and share a list of any materials that they may have for exchange with others to promote a rapid increase in our knowledge of Cypriniformes. Please send Co-organizer Richard Mayden (cypriniformes@gmail.com) your list of Cypriniformes fishes that you are willing to contribute to this exchange. These lists will be posted at this site along with names and email addresses of those contributing. As a measure of good faith Mayden has posted his holdings of frozen and EtOH fixed specimens for use with DNA or protein studies; no formalin-preserved materials are listed as Mayden does not maintain a large collection of such materials. However, if there are specific species that you need from the United States please feel free to communicate for possible acquisitions.

view Mayden's Cypriniformes list

Chavalit Vidthayanon, World Wildlife Fund Thailand.
Richard L. Mayden, Saint Louis University