Animal Profiles
Fish

Carp

Cyprinidae

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Carp is a broad familiar name for related freshwater fishes. This account describes the common carp, a deep-bodied bottom feeder that eats both animal and plant foods.

Photographed common carp (Cyprinus carpio) against a plain background.

Photographed common carp (Cyprinus carpio) against a plain background.

George Chernilevsky · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Cyprinus carpio is the representative here. It uses lakes, reservoirs and rivers, often favouring slow water with soft sediment. The continent filters concern its Eurasian origins; introductions have spread carp much farther.
Habitat
Rivers and lakes, Wetlands
Diet
Omnivore
Food
Common carp sift bottom material for insect larvae, worms, molluscs and other food.

Classification

Common name
Carp
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Cyprinidae
Source classification
Actinopterygii

Three things to know

  • It searches bottom sediment for food.
  • Scale patterns vary among domestic forms.
  • It eats plants and animals.

Habitat and range

Cyprinus carpio is the representative here. It uses lakes, reservoirs and rivers, often favouring slow water with soft sediment. The continent filters concern its Eurasian origins; introductions have spread carp much farther.

Appearance and adaptations

The body is deep, with a long dorsal fin and strongly variable scale cover. Domestic forms include heavily scaled and sparsely scaled fish. This account does not describe every member of Cyprinidae.

Diet and behaviour

Common carp sift bottom material for insect larvae, worms, molluscs and other food. Plants and seeds also contribute to the diet. Fish often move in small groups, although larger individuals may be solitary.

Sources

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