Carp

Carp
Common carp, Cyprinus carpio
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Osteichthyes Order: Cypriniformes Family: Cyprinidae
Genera
Abramis Aristichthys Barbodes Carassius Cirrhinus Ctenopharyngodon Cyprinus Epalzeorhynchos Henicorhynchus Hypophthalmichthys Labeo Mylopharyngodon and others

Carp is a common name for various freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish originally from Eurasia and southeast Asia. Some consider all cyprinid fishes carp and the family Cyprinidae itself is often known as the carp family. In colloquial use, however, carp usually refers only to several larger cyprinid species such as Cyprinus carpio (common carp), Carassius carassius (Crucian carp), Ctenopharyngodon idella (grass carp), Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (silver carp), and Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (bighead carp). Carp have long been an important food fish to humans, as well as popular ornamental fishes (see koi and goldfish). As a result, carp have been introduced to various locations, though with mixed results.

Ornamental carp

Different colorations of koi

Carp, along with many of their cyprinid relatives, are popular ornamental aquarium and pond fish. The two most notable ornamental carps are goldfish and koi. Goldfish (Carassius auratus) were kept as ornamental fish in China for hundreds of years before being introduced to Japan in the 15th century, and to Europe in the late 17th century. The koi, a domesticated variety of common carp (Cyprinus carpio), also originated from China and spread widely in Japan. The koi are historically a prevalent symbol in Japanese culture of good luck. They are shown in competitive fish shows like those at the All-Japan exhibition. They are also popular in other parts of the world as pond fish. Goldfish and koi have advantages over most ornamental fishes, as they are tolerant of cold (they can survive in water temperatures as low as 4 degrees Celsius), and can survive at low oxygen levels.

As a sport fish

Carp are similarly variable in terms of angling value. In Europe, even when not fished for food, they are eagerly sought out by anglers, being considered highly prized coarse fish that are difficult to hook.^[1] In the United States, the carp is also classified as a rough fish as well as damaging naturalized exotic species but with sporting qualities. Many states' departments of natural resources are beginning to view the carp as an angling fish instead of a maligned pest. Groups such as the Carp Anglers Group^[2] and American Carp Society^[3] promote the sport and work with fisheries departments to organize events to introduce and expose others to the unique opportunity the carp offers freshwater anglers. The American Carp Society held a tournament in March of 2006 in Austin, Texas that paid out $275,000 to the winners. Popular baits include canned corn and homemade doughball concoctions known as "boilies" in England.

Boilies - carp bait made from corn

Sir Isaac Walton said about carp in The Compleat Angler, "The Carp is the queen of rivers; a stately, a good, and a very subtil fish; that was not at first bred, nor hath been long in England, but is now naturalised."^[4]

However, in some countries, due to their habit of grubbing through bottom sediments for food and consequential alteration of their environment, they destroy, uproot and disturb submerged vegetation causing serious damage to native duck and fish populations. In Australia there is anecdotal and mounting scientific evidence that introduced carp are the cause of permanent turbidity and loss of submerged vegetation in the Murray-Darling river system, with severe consequences for river ecosystems, water quality and native fish species.

Types of carp

Carp swarm in great numbers to eat feed thrown by tourists in Urfa, Turkey.

• Genus Abramis
  • Carp bream (Abramis brama)
• Genus Barbodes:
  • Carnatic carp (Barbodes carnaticus)
• Genus Carassius:
  • Crucian carp (Carassius carassius )
  • Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio)
  • Goldfish (Carassius auratus)
• Genus Cirrhinus:
  • Chinese mud carp (Cirrhinus chinensis)
  • Deccan white carp (Cirrhinus fulungee)
  • Hora white carp (Cirrhinus macrops)
  • Small scale mud carp (Cirrhinus microlepis)
  • Mud carp (Cirrhinus molitorella)
  • Man carp (Cirrhinus saprian)
• Genus Ctenopharyngodon:
  • Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)
• Genus Culter:
  • Predatory carp (Culter erythropterus)
• Genus Cyprinus:
  • Common carp, Koi (Cyprinus carpio)
• Genus Epalzeorhynchos:
  • Red-tailed black shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor)
  • Red-finned black shark or Rainbow shark (Epalzeorhynchos frenatus)
• Genus Henicorhynchus:
  • Siamese mud carp (Henicorhynchus siamensis)
• Genus Hypophthalmichthys:
  • Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)
  • Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
• Genus Labeo:
  • African carp (Labeo coubie)
  • Fringed-lipped peninsula carp (Labeo fimbriatus)
  • Bigmouth carp (Labeo kontius)
• Genus Mylopharyngodon:
  • Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus)
• Genus Tinca:
  • Tench (Tinca tinca)

Carp Noises

Carp feeding on algae from a hard surface (such as a dock pole, boat bottom, etc.) create a loud "tapping noise."

See also

• Oily fish
• Asian carps (a term used heavy-bodied cyprinids native to China and Southeast Asia)
• Grass carp
• Rough fish

References

External links

• [http://www.carp.com
• Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission