LHPrism Status
Tier 3 - Established
Species Type
- Aquatic Invasives
- Aquatic Vertebrate
Habitat
Moving Fresh Water
Key Characteristics
Color
Can range from olive green to bronze or silver
Size
Carp can grow up to 120 cm in length and weigh up to 130 pounds
Mouth
Thick lips
Barbels
Common carp have two barbels in the corner on each side of their mouth
Dorsal Fin
17 to 23 rays with 3 to 4 spines
Anal Fin
5 to 6 rays with 2 to 3 spines
Impacts of this species
The Common carp is known as an ecosystem engineer; it can substantially influence any habitat it is introduced to. It is widely known to reduce water quality and degrade habitats.
