Cyprinus carpio

The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish. It is also known as the Eurasian carp or just carp. It is found in lakes and rivers in Europe and Asia. It has also been introduced to North America, Africa and Australia. 

Since it is a destructive invasive species, it is part of the list of the world's 100 worst invasive species. The type subspecies is Cyprinus carpio carpio, found in the Danube and Volga River. 

The common carp and various Asian relatives in their pure forms can be separated by meristics and differ in genetics, but they can interbreed. 

 Description 

 Appearance 
The Eurasian carp has a robust body with a greenish-brown with a yellowish underside. It has big, shiny scales on its body. It has large pectoral fins and a tapering dorsal fin. They also have four barbels, two on each side of their lower jaw, which are sensory organs that help them find food. The longest-lived common carp was 64 years old and the biggest recorded carp weighed 45.59 kg. When they're given sufficient space and nutrients, these fishes can grow to a very large size. 

 Diet 
Since they are omnivorous, they will devour aquatic plants and seeds, insects, crustaceans, mollusks, benthic worms, fish eggs, and leftovers.

 Home 
Common carp live in freshwater environments, preferably large bodies of slow water covered with vegetation.

 Introduction 

 United States 
In 1831, Eurasian carp were introduced into the United States. These fish are not usually eaten anymore because they are pests.

They are attempting to reduce the common carp's population by 75% in Utah to save the June sucker from extinction.

 As food 
Common carp is eaten in Central Europe as part of Christmas Eve. In the United States, it's not usually eaten because shoppers usually like fillets.

 Gallery 

 References 
Category:Cyprinus
Category:Freshwater fish
Category:National symbols of Japan

 Other websites 

 Cyprinus carpio . FishBase.
 https://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/WFI/non-native-fishes/carps-and-minnows/common-carp