Minnows constitute the family Cyprinidae of the order Cypriniformes. Most of the members of the minnow family are only a few centimeters in length, but India's mahseer measures up to 2.7 meters and some weigh more than 45 kg. Minnows are the largest family of fish, including more than 2,000 species. They are characterized by a single dorsal fin and by one to three rows of teeth in the throat but never in the jaw.