Family : Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order : Cypriniformes  (carps)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Common carp
Fish Name : Cyprinus carpio carpio
Max size : 120 cm SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 2847); max. published weight: 40.1 kg (Ref. 72380); max. reported age: 38 years
Environment : benthopelagic; potamodromous; pH range: 7 - 7.5; dH range: 10 - 15
Climate : subtropical; 3 - 32°C; 60°N - 40°N
Global Importance : fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.10-0.30; tm=1-3; tmax=20; Fec=36,000-2,000,000)Distribution : Europe to Asia: Europe, Russia, China, India and South-East Asia. One of the first species to be introduced into other countries and now attains global distribution. Inland aquaculture and capture fisheries contributions proved to be very significant. A reophilic wild population in the Danube is assumed to be the origin of the European species; this population is now under threat (Ref. 13696). Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 3-4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-23; Anal spines: 2-3; Anal soft rays: 5-6; Vertebrae: 36-37. Pharyngeal teeth 1, 1, 3:3, 1,1, robust, molar-like with crown flattened or somewhat furrowed. Scales large and thick. `Wild carp ' is generally distinguished by its less stocky build with height of body 1:3.2-4.8 in standard length. Very variable in form, proportions, squamation, development of fins, and color. Caudal fin with 3 spines and 17-19 rays (Ref. 2196). Last simple anal ray bony and serrated posteriorly; 4 barbels; 17-20 branched dorsal rays; body grey to bronze (Ref. 43281). Also Ref. 3398, 3410.
Biology : Occur at a temperature range of 3-35°C. Hardy and tolerant of a wide variety of conditions but generally favor large water bodies with slow flowing or standing water and soft bottom sediments. Common carp thrive in large turbid rivers. They are omnivorous, feeding mainly on aquatic insects, crustaceans, annelids, mollusks, weed and tree seeds, wild rice, aquatic plants and algae; mainly by grubbing in sediments (Ref. 1998). Spawn in spring and summer, laying sticky eggs in shallow vegetation (Ref. 7248). A female 47 cm in length produces about 300,000 eggs (Ref. 6885). Young are probably preyed upon by northern pike, muskellunge, and largemouth bass. Adults uproot and destroy submerged aquatic vegetation and therefore may be detrimental to duck and native fish populations (Ref. 1998). Utilized fresh and frozen (Ref. 9987). Aquarium keeping: in groups of 5 or more individuals; minimum aquarium size >200 cm; not recommended for home aquariums (Ref. 51539)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : potential pest
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Kottelat, M.. 1997. (Ref. 13696)

India country information
Common Names : സൈപ്റന്, Common carp, Mirror carp, Punjabe gad, Scale carp, Siprinus, Soneri masha
Status : introduced
Salinity : freshwater
Uses : no uses