Aplocheilidae
family of toothcarp fishes (Cyprinodontiformes)
Aplocheilidae, the Asian killifishes or Asian rivulines, is a family of fish in the order Cyprinodontiformes found in Asia. Some authorities use this family-group name, which is well-established, for a single lumped aplocheiloid family as it gives the nomenclature stability over time and avoids the impact of a new name at family rank for a popular aquarium fish group. Following this proposal, Aplocheilidae would include three subfamilies: Aplocheilinae for the species from Asia, Madagascar and the Seychelles; Cynolebiinae (formerly called Rivulidae) for the species from the Americas; and Nothobranchiinae for the species from the African mainland. However, the 5th edition of Fishes of the World still classifies these as separate families, and at least one 2008 study suggests that even the narrow Aplocheilidae may not be monophyletic, with Aplocheilus itself possibly being basal to all other Cyprinodontiforms and thus only distantly related to the younger Pachypanchax.
The public source identifies “Aplocheilidae” as family of toothcarp fishes (Cyprinodontiformes). This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Aplocheilidae, family and toothcarp.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Aplocheilidae”, the useful work is to connect “family of toothcarp fishes (Cyprinodontiformes)” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated May 18, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q133314. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 2008.
The absence of detail may reflect summary conventions rather than a lack of surviving documentation. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
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- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Aplocheilidae”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Aplocheilidae primary sources, Aplocheilidae archive and Aplocheilidae research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Aplocheilidae”?
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- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Aplocheilidae” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.