Siamese Algae Eater a Type of Shark?

[blklex460]

As the title says, how is the SAE classified as a freshwater "shark"?

 

[hampalong]

It's in the same genus now as the Rainbow and RTB. So in that respect it's a shark, kinda.

 

[blklex460]

Yes but what I mean is, it looks nothing like it's bigger cousins. The finnage is different, etc. And it's not aggressive in a community environment or predatory.

 

[Anders247]

It's in the same genus now as the Rainbow and RTB. So in that respect it's a shark, kinda.

You mean family? Crossocheilus is the genus SAEs are in, and Epalzeorhynchus is the genus rainbow sharks and RTBs are in......
Flying foxes are the ones in Epalzeorhynchus.

 

[hampalong]

Oops. Yeah that's what I was thinking of. Flying Foxes are "sharks", not SAEs. And they look nothing like them either.

 

[blklex460]

To me, the SAEs just look like bigger versions of Oto's.

 

[Anders247]

To me, the SAEs just look like bigger versions of Oto's.

They have different shaped bodies. The coloring is similar though.
There are different colors of otos than the ones usually seen, they aren't common in the hobby though.