Description - A heavy bodied, laterally compressed minnow with a long dorsal fin and arched back. The first ray of the dorsal and anal fins is a stout, serrated spine. The small triangular head tapers to a blunt snout. The small, protrusible mouth contains no teeth and is located below the snout. There are two pair of barbels on the upper jaw.
Body color is brassy green on top grading to bronze or gold on sides.
The belly is yellowish white. Fins typically are yellow, orange, golden, or light olive in color. Mirror carp has a few very large scales scattered over the body and leather carp are virtually scaleless. In Florida, the common carp occurs only in the Apalachicola and Ochlockonee rivers. It is widely distributed in North America.