# Carp (*Cyprinus carpio*) Carp are colorful fish that live in rivers, lakes, and ponds. They have shiny scales and can grow very big. Carp are known for their ability to adapt to different environments. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Freshwater - **Also known as:** Asian Carp, Leather Carp ![Carp](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426417/objects/5967.jpg) ## Appearance The Carp has a large, robust body covered in shiny, often golden-brown to olive-green scales. It typically has two pairs of distinct barbels, or fleshy feelers, near its mouth, setting it apart visually. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Cypriniformes - **Family:** Cyprinidae - **Genus:** Cyprinus ## Interesting facts - A single female carp can lay over a million tiny eggs in one breeding season! - Carp have been around for more than 100 million years, swimming with the dinosaurs! - Koi fish are actually colorful types of carp, specifically bred for their beauty! - Some carp have shiny scales that look like mirrors, called 'Mirror Carp'! ## Special abilities - **Mouth Feelers:** Carp has four barbels that help it sense and find tasty food in murky water, even in the dark. - **Grinding Gulp:** Carp can crush hard food using special pharyngeal teeth located in its throat, not its mouth. - **Tough Traveler:** Carp can live in water with less oxygen, helping it survive in various, sometimes challenging habitats. - **Water Leap:** Carp can jump out of the water, a behavior that helps them escape danger or pass over obstacles. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 40-120 cm - **Weight:** 2-40 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-30 years - **Swim Speed:** 5 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 10 m - **Water Type:** Freshwater ## Diet & Feeding Bottom-feeding omnivores that eat plants, insects, and small critters found in the mud. - **Primary Foods:** aquatic plants, insect larvae, worms, small crustaceans, algae, detritus - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Eurasian Otter](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-otter) (*Lutra lutra*) — Otters often hunt carp as a vital food source. - **Hunts:** [Northern Pike](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-pike) (*Esox lucius*) — Pike are ambush predators of young carp. - **Hunts:** [White-tailed Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-eagle) (*Haliaeetus albicilla*) — Large eagles snatch carp from the surface. - **Eats:** Water Flea (*Daphnia pulex*) — Young carp eat these tiny crustaceans. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low When near water where carp live, always stay at a safe distance and never try to catch them without adult supervision. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Carp? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Carp? 40-120 cm ### How much does Carp weigh? 2-40 kg ### How long does Carp live? 10-30 years ### What does Carp eat? Bottom-feeding omnivores that eat plants, insects, and small critters found in the mud. ### How fast can Carp swim? 5 km/h ### Where is Carp usually found? Freshwater ### How does Carp hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Tierpark Hirschfeld](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-hirschfeld) — Sachsen, DE · Zoo - [Oita Prefectural Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oita-prefectural-forest) — Kyushu, JP · Park ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Carp: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carp)