Carp

Carp are many types of fish.

Most of them live in fresh water. They come from lands in Europe and Asia.

Some people keep them for food. Other people keep them to look at.

These fish can have bright colors.

Some carp are called koi. People have bred them to be pretty.

Goldfish also came from these fish.

These fish are very strong. They can live in water with very little air. This helps them stay alive under ice.

Carp can be found in lakes and ponds. They are very hardy fish.

Carp are a large group of freshwater fish.

Most of them come from Eurasia. This is a large area of land. It includes parts of Europe and Asia.

Many people use carp for food. Others keep them as ornamental fish. These are fish kept for their beauty.

For example, koi are colorful carp. People have bred them to look pretty. Goldfish also came from carp.

Carp are very strong. Some can live for months with almost no oxygen. This helps them survive under ice. They do this by changing how their bodies use power. They turn food into a special acid. This acid then turns into gas. The gas leaves their bodies through their gills.

In some places, carp can be a problem. They are called invasive species. This means they move into new areas. They can push out local fish. In the United States, some people call them pests. But other people enjoy fishing for them. They are very hard to catch.

Carp are a huge group of freshwater fish. They belong to a family called Cyprinidae. Most of these fish come from Eurasia, which covers much of Europe and Asia.

People view these fish in many different ways. In some parts of the world, they are prized for food. Other people keep them as ornamental fish because they are beautiful. However, in places like Australia or the United States, they are often seen as invasive pests.

This means they move into new areas and push out local fish.

These fish have amazing ways to stay alive. Some carp can live for months without much oxygen. This is helpful when they are stuck under ice or in stagnant water.

To do this, they use a special way it works inside their bodies. They change stored energy into lactic acid. Then, they turn that acid into ethanol and carbon dioxide. Finally, the ethanol leaves their bodies through their gills. This allows them to survive in very tough conditions.

Humans have worked with carp for a very long time. People in China have practiced aquaculture, or fish farming, for at least 2,400 years.

An old Chinese text from the fifth century BC even describes how to raise them in ponds. In Japan, people have bred colorful koi fish since the early 19th century. These beautiful fish were made through selective breeding. This is when people choose certain fish to make babies with. They wanted fish with bright colors for decoration.

There are many different kinds of carp with different sizes. The common carp can grow to 110 centimeters long. It can also weigh about 40.1 kilograms.

The grass carp is even larger, reaching up to 150 centimeters. Some fish, like the silver carp, are listed as near threatened. Others, like the bighead carp, have data that is still being studied. In the United States, common carp are very common in the Midwest. They were introduced to these waters in the 1880s.

Many things you know might link back to the carp. If you have ever seen a goldfish, you are looking at a relative of the carp. Goldfish were originally bred from a dark greyish-brown carp in Asia.

People in China began breeding them for color over a thousand years ago. You might also know koi fish from beautiful garden ponds. Even the way people fish for sport is linked to them. In the UK, carp angling is a very popular hobby. Some anglers even look for the hardest fish to catch.

Carp is a common name for many species of freshwater fish. These fish belong to the family Cyprinidae. This is a very large group of ray-finned fish. Most of these species are native to Eurasia.

People view carp in many different ways depending on where they live. In the Old World, they are often valued as food or ornamental fish. However, in places like Australia, Africa, and much of the United States, they are seen as invasive pests. This means they can move into new areas and out-compete local species.

Many carp belong to a group called the Ostariophysi. This superorder includes the Cypriniformes family. These fish share specific anatomical features. They live mostly in fresh water. They also possess Weberian ossicles. These are special structures made from the first five vertebrae. They also include corresponding ribs and neural crests. The third pair of ribs touches the labyrinth and the swim bladder. Scientists believe these structures help transmit vibrations. This process likely helps the fish perceive sound. This explains why many of these fish have a great capacity for hearing.

Carp species vary greatly in size and behavior. The common carp, or Cyprinus carpio, can reach 110 centimeters in length. It can weigh up to 40.1 kilograms. The grass carp is even larger, reaching 150 centimeters. Other species include the silver carp and the bighead carp. Some carp are quite hardy and can survive extreme conditions. For example, some species can live for months without much oxygen. This happens under ice or in stagnant water. They do this by metabolizing glycogen into lactic acid. They then convert that acid into ethanol and carbon dioxide. The ethanol eventually diffuses into the water through their gills.

Humans have a very long history with carp. Aquaculture is the practice of farming fish. In China, people have practiced aquaculture for at least 2,400 years. A text by Fan Li from the fifth century BC describes how to raise carp in ponds. Different species were domesticated independently in different parts of Eurasia. The common carp is native to Central Europe. Other species, known as Asian carp, were domesticated in East Asia. Some species from South Asia are called Indian carp.

Selective breeding has changed how carp look. This is when humans choose specific fish to breed. In Japan, people have bred the Amur carp for ornamental purposes since the early 19th century. These are known as koi. In China, people began breeding goldfish for color over a thousand years ago. Goldfish were originally domesticated from a dark greyish-brown carp. Scientists also use selective breeding to improve food fish. In the USSR, researchers selected carp for better growth and cold tolerance. They created the Ropsha carp, which showed up to 77.4% better cold tolerance. In China, scientists developed the Jian carp. This variant grows rapidly and has a high feed conversion rate.

In the United States, the history of carp is complicated. They were introduced to the country in the 1880s. For a long time, they had a poor reputation as a "rough fish." Many people saw them as a damaging invasive species. However, many states are changing their view. Some now see them as a great target for recreational fishing. These fish are strong and fight hard on a line. Groups like the American Carp Society promote carp angling as a unique sport.

Carp are connected to many different parts of human life. They are vital to the global food system through aquaculture. In Asia, carp farming surpasses the volume of intensive sea-farmed species like salmon. They are also central to the ornamental fish industry. You can see this in beautiful koi in garden ponds or goldfish in aquariums.

Even the way people study biology is linked to them. Their unique ability to survive low oxygen provides a fascinating look at animal metabolism. Whether as a food source, a pet, or a challenge for anglers, carp remain a significant part of our world.