The hillstream loaches or river loaches are a family, the Balitoridae,^[1] of small Eurasian fish. Many of the species are popular for aquaria. They have a number of similarities with the Cobitidae, their sibling family of "loaches", such as multiple barbels around the mouth. They should not be confused with the loricariids, which look similar but are a family of catfish.

Most species are rheophilic, living in swift, clear and well-oxygenated streams. Several species of the family live in fast-flowing streams or torrents and have modified ventral fins used for clinging to rocks.^[2]

The subfamily Nemacheilinae has recently been separated as a distinct family, Nemacheilidae, the stone loaches and several genera have been separated into the family Gastromyzontidae.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Kottelat, M. (2012): Conspectus cobitidum: an inventory of the loaches of the world (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Cobitoidei). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Suppl. No. 26: 1-199.
2. ^ Banister, Keith E. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N.. ed. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 100. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.