carp

Fish Cyprinus carpio found all over the world. It commonly grows to 50 cm/1.8 ft and 3 kg/7 lb, but may be even larger. It lives in lakes, ponds, and slow rivers. The wild form is drab, but cultivated forms may be golden, or may have few large scales (mirror carp) or be scaleless (leather carp). Koi carp are highly prized and can grow up to 1 m/3 ft long with a distinctive pink, red, white, or black colouring.

A large proportion of European freshwater fish belong to the carp family, Cyprinidae, and related fishes are found in Asia, Africa, and North America. The carp's fast growth, large size, and ability to live in still water with little oxygen have made it a good fish to farm, and it has been cultivated for hundreds of years and spread by human agency. Members of this family have a single non-spiny dorsal fin, pelvic fins well back on the body, and toothless jaws, although teeth in the throat form an efficient grinding apparatus. Minnows, roach, rudd, and many others, including goldfish, belong to this family. Chinese grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella have been introduced (one sex only) to European rivers for weed control.