Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

Русское название: Карп обыкновенный

A widely farmed and introduced species. Its bottom-feeding behaviour can stir sediment and affect aquatic vegetation in sensitive habitats. Releasing live carp into new waters can harm ecosystems.

✳ Scientific names are used to reduce confusion between local names.

◎Distribution

Eurasia; widely introduced around the world

♧Habitat

Ponds, lakes and slow-moving rivers

✺Identification limits

Images and brief descriptions are for learning, not for reliably identifying a specimen. Take particular care with poisonous plants and mushrooms.

Further reading and image creditsCyprinus carpio — Wikipedia overview ↗Photo, author and license — Wikimedia Commons ↗

Identification is never guaranteed by a photo. Scientific names are used to reduce confusion between local names.

THE WORLD ATLAS

Related species

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Abramis bramaFreshwater

Common bream

A deep-bodied, laterally compressed fish with a protrusible mouth adapted to bottom-feeding.

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Alburnus alburnusFreshwater

Common bleak

A small silvery shoaling fish often visible near the surface.

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Barbus barbusFreshwater

Common barbel

A bottom-feeding river fish with four conspicuous barbels near the mouth.

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Guides from this topic

Six common freshwater fish in Europe: names and habitatsMeet pike, perch, trout, zander, tench and carp with scientific names and conservation context.Fishing responsibly: clean gear before moving between watersRods, boots, nets and boats can transport organisms that harm another lake or river.Catch and release: how to reduce harm to fishWet hands, minimal handling and quick release can make a real difference.