They are found from central canada, throughout the U.S. and south into central Mexico. They are considered one of the common fish species in North America.
They live in slow moving water, marshes or large ponds and lakes with mucky bottoms. They do well in fresh water or brackish water (slightly salty).
They keep growing throughout their lives. They can reach 5 feet long and weigh over 80 pounds. They can be bronze to green colored, lighter below. They have very visible scales and small whiskers.
They like to travel in schools.
They eat water plants mostly, but also insects, crustaceans, mollusks, fish eggs and any dead matter that they find.
A female lays as many as 300,000 eggs in shallow water and the male fertilizes them. Most are eaten by other fish.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Suborder: None
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Cyprinus
Species: C. carpio
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Amsel, Sheri. "Carp (Common)" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. March 25, 2024
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