🏞️ Freshwater

Common Carp

Cyprinus carpio

The common carp is one of the world's most widely distributed freshwater fish — introduced to every continent except Antarctica. In Asia and Europe, it is revered as a sport fish and food source; in North America, it is often considered an invasive pest that degrades water quality. Carp are intelligent, long-lived fish that can adapt to a wide range of environments, from pristine lakes to polluted urban ponds.

📏
Typical Size
12–36 inches (30–90 cm) typical
⚖️
Weight
5–30 lbs (2.3–13.6 kg) typical; record over 100 lbs (45 kg)
⏳
Lifespan
20–50 years
💧
Water Type
Freshwater

🗺️ Habitat

Lakes, ponds, rivers, and reservoirs worldwide. Thrives in warm, shallow water with soft sediment. Introduced throughout North America, now widespread.

🔍 How to Identify Common Carp

  • 1Two pairs of barbels (whiskers) at the corners of the mouth — unlike any other large North American fish
  • 2Large, heavy scales with a distinctive pattern
  • 3Olive-green to golden body with a dark back and yellowish belly
  • 4Single row of teeth in the throat (pharyngeal teeth) for crushing hard food
  • 5Long dorsal fin with a strong, serrated first spine

🍽️ Diet

Omnivore — aquatic vegetation, insects, crustaceans, worms, and algae. Root around in mud for food.

💡 Fun Facts About Common Carp

  • ★Koi are ornamental varieties of common carp, selectively bred for color
  • ★Common carp can live 50+ years — specimens over 40 years old have been verified
  • ★In Europe and Asia, carp fishing is a popular sport with dedicated tournaments
  • ★Carp can devastate aquatic ecosystems by uprooting vegetation and increasing water turbidity
  • ★The carp has been a food fish for over 2,000 years in China

🛡️ Conservation Status

Least Concern globally; considered invasive and damaging in North America and Australia

🔗 Related Species

Identify Common Carp Instantly with AI

Not sure if you found a Common Carp? Snap a photo with our Fish Identifier app for an instant AI-powered identification.

📱 Download Fish Identifier — Free

Learn more:

How to Identify Fish: A Beginner's GuideMost Common Freshwater Fish in North America← Back to All Fish Species