Common carp

Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) is a widespread freshwater fish of eutrophic waters in lakes and large rivers in Europe and Asia. The native wild populations are considered vulnerable to extinction, but the species has also been domesticated and introduced into environments worldwide, and is often considered a destructive invasive species.

Description

The Common Carp is a heavy-bodied minnow with barbels on either side of the upper jaw. Typical color varies from brassy green or yellow, to golden brown, or even silvery. While the wild Common Carp is generally dark in color, domesticated koi and goldfish have a variety of colors.

Habitat and Habits

Common Carp prefer large bodies of slow or standing water and soft, vegetative sediments. They are a highly adaptable species, being able to live and even thrive in environments degraded by human activity. The ability of the Common Carp to survive and adapt to various conditions is largely due to its varied diet.

Diet

Common Carp are omnivorous. They can eat a herbivorous diet of water plants, but prefer to scavenge the bottom for insects, crustaceans (including zooplankton), crawfish, and benthic worms.

Reproduction

Common Carp are prolific breeders. Females can produce over a million eggs in a single spawn. Although carp typically spawn in the spring, in response to rising water temperatures and rainfall, carp can spawn multiple times in a season.

Economic Importance

Common Carp are extremely popular with anglers in many parts of Europe, and their economic importance is largely due to angling. They are also commercially farmed in many parts of the world.

Invasive Species

In several parts of the world, notably Australia and North America, the Common Carp is considered a pest fish because of its habit of drastically altering environments it invades by destroying vegetation and disturbing the muddy bottoms of waterways.