The term carp ( pl. : carp) is a generic common name for numerous species of freshwater fish from the family Cyprinidae , a very large clade of ray-finned fish mostly native to Eurasia . While carp are prized quarries and are valued (even commercially cultivated ) as both food and ornamental fish in many parts of the Old World , they are considered trash fish and invasive pests in many parts of Africa , Australia and most of the United States .
41-539: The cypriniformes (family Cyprinidae) are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes , Siluriformes , and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi , since these groups share some common features. These features include being found predominantly in fresh water and possessing Weberian ossicles , an anatomical structure derived from the first five anterior-most vertebrae, and their corresponding ribs and neural crests. The third anterior-most pair of ribs
82-478: A Weberian apparatus , a series of bony parts connecting the swim bladder and inner ear . Superficially, the Characiformes somewhat resemble their relatives of the order Cypriniformes , but have a small, fleshy adipose fin between the dorsal fin and tail . Most species have teeth within the mouth, since they are often carnivorous . The body is almost always covered in well-defined scales. The mouth
123-428: A "Eurasian" carp. Carp have long been an important food fish to humans. Several species such as the various goldfish ( Carassius auratus ) breeds and the domesticated common carp variety known as koi ( Cyprinus rubrofuscus var. "koi" ) have been popular ornamental fishes. As a result, carp have been introduced to various locations, though with mixed results. Several species of carp are considered invasive species in
164-457: A Samurai's bravery. One typical saying is the phrase "koi no taki-nobori", translating to "Carp climbing the waterfalls", a phrase that is used to describe a persons strength and perseverance. Characiformes Characiformes / ˈ k æ r ə s ɪ f ɔːr m iː z / is an order of ray-finned fish , comprising the characins and their allies. Grouped in 18 recognized families, more than 2000 different species are described, including
205-643: A domesticated varieties of common carp and Amur carp ( Cyprinus rubrofuscus ) that have been selectively bred for color. The common carp was introduced from China to Japan, where selective breeding in the 1820s in the Niigata region resulted in koi. In Japanese culture, koi are treated with affection, and seen as good luck. They are popular in other parts of the world as outdoor pond fish. A long tradition of common carp exists in Chinese culture and literature. A popular lyric circulating as early as 2,000 years ago in
246-521: A high feed conversion rate . Over 50% of the total aquaculture production of carp in China has now converted to Jian carp. Carp, along with many of their cyprinid relatives, are popular ornamental aquarium and pond fish. Ornamental goldfish were originally domesticated from their wild form, a dark greyish-brown carp native to Asia, but may have been influenced by Carassius carassius and Carassius gibelio . They were first bred for color in China over
287-528: A high degree of eloquence to the Japanese people, thus creating a level of respect and appreciation for the Koi. With Koi fish being at the forefront of a lot of Japanese art, it is common to find modern depictions of Koi in paintings, home art, murals, and even tattoos. To many people, Koi fish strongly represent Samurai warriors, as they are able to be seen swimming upwards against a rivers current, symbolizing
328-492: A large protruding lower jaw, and upturned mouth. It has large, greyish scales on its dorsal side with a whitish belly. It reaches up to 182 cm (6.0 ft) in length and 38.6 kg (85 lb) in weight. Catla is a surface and midwater feeder. Adults feed on zooplankton using large gill rakers, while young ones feed on both zooplankton and phytoplankton. Catla attains sexual maturity at an average age of two years and an average weight of 2 kg (4.4 lb). The catla
369-1620: A number of modern South American characin families have their earliest occurrences in the Maastrichtian of Bolivia, with isolated teeth and skeletal elements identifiable to Acestrorhynchidae , Characidae , and Serrasalmidae . Below is a phylogeny of living Characiformes based on Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2017 and Nelson, Grande & Wilson 2016. Distichodontidae Günther 1864 [REDACTED] Citharinidae Günther 1864 [REDACTED] Crenuchidae Günther 1864 sensu Froese & Pauly 2001 Hepsetidae Hubbs 1939 [REDACTED] Alestiidae Cockerell 1910 [REDACTED] Tarumaniidae de Pinna et al. 2017 Erythrinidae Valenciennes 1847 [REDACTED] Serrasalmidae Bleeker 1859 [REDACTED] Cynodontidae Eigenmann 1903 [REDACTED] Hemiodontidae Bleeker 1859 [REDACTED] Parodontidae Eigenmann 1910 Prochilodontidae Eigenmann 1909 [REDACTED] Chilodontidae Eigenmann 1903 Curimatidae Gill 1858 [REDACTED] Anostomidae Günther 1864 sensu Nelson 1994 [REDACTED] Ctenoluciidae Schultz 1944 Lebiasinidae Gill 1889 Chalceidae Fowler 1958 Iguanodectidae Eigenmann 1909 Acestrorhynchidae Eigenmann 1912 Triportheidae Fowler 1940 [REDACTED] Bryconidae Eigenmann 1912 [REDACTED] Gasteropelecidae Bleeker 1859 [REDACTED] Characidae Latreille 1825 sensu Buckup 1998 [REDACTED] Characins possess
410-401: A thousand years ago. Due to selective breeding, goldfish have been developed into many distinct breeds, and are found in various colors, color patterns, forms and sizes far different from those of the original carp. Goldfish were kept as ornamental fish in China for thousands of years before being introduced to Japan in 1603, and to Europe in 1611. Nishikigoi , better known simply as koi, are
451-563: A very wide distribution across Laramidia , ranging from Texas to as far north as southern Canada ( Dinosaur Park Formation ). It is likely that the warmer conditions of the Late Cretaceous allowed early characins to range farther north than the present day, with African characins colonizing Europe and South American characins colonizing North America. Early characins may have had some level of salt tolerance, allowing for such colonizations to take place. Within their modern distribution,
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#1732772384734492-482: Is a waterfall called the Dragon Gate . It is said that if certain carp called yulong can climb the cataract, they will transform into dragons. Every year in the third month of spring, they swim up from the sea and gather in vast numbers in the pool at the foot of the falls. It used to be said that only 71 could make the climb in any year. When the first succeeded, then the rains would begin to fall. This Dragon Gate
533-459: Is also usually not truly protractile. The largest characins are Hydrocynus goliath and Salminus franciscanus and Hoplias aimara , both of which are up to 1.2 m (3.9 ft). The smallest in size is about 1.7 cm (0.67 in) in the Bolivian pygmy blue characin, Xenurobrycon polyancistrus . Many members are under 3 cm (1.2 in). Characins are most diverse in
574-590: Is considered the sister group to the rest of the characins, suborder Characoidei . This group has a very ancient divergence from the rest of the Characiformes, dating back to the Early Cretaceous or earlier, and it has been suggested that it be better treated as its own order, the Cithariniformes . The Characiformes likely first originated and diversified on the supercontinent of West Gondwana (composed of modern Africa and South America) during
615-466: Is in contact with the extension of the labyrinth and the posterior with the swim bladder. The function is poorly understood, but this structure is presumed to take part in the transmission of vibrations from the swim bladder to the labyrinth and in the perception of sound, which would explain why the Ostariophysi have such a great capacity for hearing. Most cypriniformes have scales and teeth on
656-572: Is no paleontological support for characiforms having marine origins. Uniquely, Late Cretaceous characiform fossils are found significantly north of their modern distribution. Indeterminate characiform teeth are known from the Santonian of Hungary and Maastrichtian of France, which have a large, multi-cusped appearance reminiscent of African alestids . Similarly, two Campanian freshwater characiform genera, Primuluchara and Eotexachara , are known from North America, with Primuluchara having
697-461: Is one of the most important aquacultured freshwater species in South Asia . It is grown in polyculture ponds with other carp-like fish, particularly with the roho labeo ( Labeo rohita ) and mrigal carp . The reported production numbers have increased sharply during the 2000s, and were in 2012 about 2.8 million tonnes per year. Catla is sold and consumed fresh, locally and regionally. It
738-691: Is said about them. Other famous Dragon Gates are on the Wei River where it passes through the Lung Sheu Mountains and at Tsin in Shanxi Province. The fish's jumping feature is set in such a proverbial idiom as " Liyu (Carp) jumps over the Dragon Gate ( Chinese : 鲤跃龙门 )," an idiom that conveys a vivid image symbolizing a sudden uplifting in one's social status, as when one ascends into the upper society or has found favor with
779-600: Is still a major form of aquaculture in Central and Eastern Europe , including the Russian Federation , where most of the production comes from low or intermediate-intensity ponds. In Asia , the farming of carp continues to surpass the total amount of farmed fish volume of intensively sea-farmed species, such as salmon and tuna . Selective breeding programs for the common carp include improvement in growth, shape, and resistance to disease. Experiments carried out in
820-454: Is the queen of rivers; a stately, a good, and a very subtle fish; that was not at first bred, nor hath been long in England , but is now naturalised." Carp are variable in terms of angling value. Various species of carp have been domesticated and reared as food fish across Europe and Asia for thousands of years. These various species appear to have been domesticated independently, as
861-640: Is usually colored in gold or pink, shimmering with an unmistakably auspicious tone. The modern Japanese Koi fish are a brightly colored species of the Amur carp that have been bred by rice farmers in Japan since the early 19th century. This subspecies of carp plays a significant role in Japanese art, often being depicted as symbols of luck, strength, and tenacity. For this reason, Koi fish are also presented as gifts in Japanese culture as symbols of love, gratitude, and peace. Their bright colors and unique patterns present
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#1732772384734902-474: The Americas . A few characins become quite large, and are important as food or game. Most, however, are small shoaling fish. Many species commonly called tetras are popular in aquaria because of their bright colors, general hardiness, and tolerance towards other fish in community tanks. Catla catla Catla ( Labeo catla ), ( Bengali : কাতলা , romanized : kātlā ) also known as
943-581: The Neotropics , where they are found in lakes and rivers throughout most of South and Central America . The red-bellied piranha , a member of the family Serrasalmidae within the Characiformes, is endemic to the Neotropical realm. At least 209 species of characins are found in Africa, including the distichodontids , citharinids , alestids , and hepsetids . The rest of the characins originate from
984-559: The USSR used crossings of broodstocks to increase genetic diversity, and then selected the species for traits such as growth rate, exterior traits and viability, and/or adaptation to environmental conditions such as variations in temperature. Selected carp for fast growth and tolerance to cold, the Ropsha carp. The results showed a 30 to 77.4% improvement of cold tolerance, but did not provide any data for growth rate. An increase in growth rate
1025-685: The black , grass , silver and bighead carp . In the 1950s, the Pearl River Fishery Research Institute in China made a technological breakthrough in the induced breeding of these carps, which has resulted in a rapid expansion of freshwater aquaculture in China. In the late 1990s, scientists at the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences developed a new variant of the common carp called the Jian carp ( Cyprinus carpio var. Jian ). This fish grows rapidly and has
1066-745: The Cretaceous period, though fossils are poorly known. During the Cretaceous Period, the rift between South America and Africa would be forming; this may explain the contrast in diversity between the two continents. Their low diversity in Africa may explain why some primitive fish families and the Cypriniformes coexist with them whereas they are absent in South America, where these fish may have been driven extinct. The characiforms had not spread into Africa soon enough to also reach
1107-578: The Early Cretaceous ( Albian Age) of Brazil . This presumably marine taxon was used as evidence of characiformes potentially having marine origins. However, more recent studies indicate that Santanaichthys is likely a basal otophysan rather than a characiform. Similarly, Salminops from Spain and Sorbinicharax from Italy, previously also considered potential marine characiforms, are now thought to have no characiform affinities and are considered indeterminate teleosts . Given this, there
1148-606: The United States, and, worldwide, large sums of money are spent on carp control. At least some species of carp are able to survive for months with practically no oxygen (for example under ice or in stagnant, scummy water) by metabolizing glycogen to form lactic acid which is then converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide . The ethanol diffuses into the surrounding water through the gills . In 1653 Izaak Walton wrote in The Compleat Angler , "The Carp
1189-417: The carp family. In colloquial use, carp usually refers only to several larger cyprinid species such as Cyprinus carpio (common carp), Carassius carassius (crucian carp), Ctenopharyngodon idella (grass carp), Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (silver carp), and Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (bighead carp). Common carp are native to both Eastern Europe and Western Asia , so they are sometimes called
1230-508: The characins were all grouped within a single family, the Characidae . Since then, 18 different families have been separated out. However, classification varies somewhat, and the most recent (2011) study confirms the circumscribed Characidae as monophyletic . Currently, 18 families , about 270 genera , and at least 1674 species are known. The suborder Citharinoidei , which contains the families Distichodontidae and Citharinidae ,
1271-408: The inferior pharyngeal bones which may be modified in relation to the diet. Tribolodon is the only cyprinid genus which tolerates salt water. Several species move into brackish water but return to fresh water to spawn. All of the other cypriniformes live in continental waters and have a wide geographical range. Some consider all cyprinid fishes carp, and the family Cyprinidae itself is often known as
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1312-549: The land connection between Africa and Asia. The earliest they could have spread into Central America was the late Miocene . The earliest characiform fossils date back to the Late Cretaceous, around the Santonian . Other fossil teeth date back to the Cenomanian of Morocco , but it has been suggested that these teeth may be of early ginglymodians . Previously, the oldest characiform was assumed to be Santanichthys of
1353-512: The late Han period includes an anecdote which relates how a man far away from home sent back to his wife a pair of carp ( Chinese : 鲤鱼 ; pinyin : Liyu ), in which, when the wife opened the fish to cook, she found a silk strip that carried a love note of just two lines: "Eat well to keep fit, missing you and forget me not". At the Yellow River at Henan ( Chinese : 河南 ; pinyin : Hénán ; Wade–Giles : Ho-nan )
1394-490: The major South Asian carp, is an economically important South Asian freshwater fish in the carp family Cyprinidae . It is native to rivers and lakes in northern India , Bangladesh , Myanmar , Nepal , and Pakistan , but has also been introduced elsewhere in South Asia and is commonly farmed . In Nepal and neighbouring regions of India, up to Odisha, it is called Bhakura. Catla is a fish with large and broad head,
1435-413: The royal or a noble family, perhaps through marriage, but in particular through success in the imperial examination . It is therefore an idiom often used to encourage students or children to achieve success through hard work and perseverance. This symbolic image, as well as the image of the carp itself, has been one of the most popular themes in Chinese paintings, especially those of popular styles. The fish
1476-789: The various domesticated carp species are native to different parts of Eurasia . Aquaculture has been pursued in China for at least 2,400 years. A tract by Fan Li in the fifth century BC details many of the ways carp were raised in ponds . The common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) is originally from Central Europe . Several carp species (collectively known as Asian carp ) were domesticated in East Asia . Carp that are originally from South Asia , for example catla ( Gibelion catla ), rohu ( Labeo rohita ) and mrigal ( Cirrhinus cirrhosus ), are known as Indian carp . Their hardiness and adaptability have allowed domesticated species to be propagated all around
1517-688: The well-known piranha and tetras . The Characiformes form part of a series called the Otophysi within the superorder Ostariophysi . The Otophysi contain three other orders, Cypriniformes , Siluriformes , and Gymnotiformes . The Characiformes form a group known as the Characiphysi with the Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes. The order Characiformes is the sister group to the orders Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes, though this has been debated in light of recent molecular evidence. Originally,
1558-464: The world. Although the carp was an important aquatic food item, as more fish species have become readily available for the table, the importance of carp culture in Western Europe has diminished. Demand has declined, partly due to the appearance of more desirable table fish such as trout and salmon through intensive farming , and environmental constraints. However, fish production in ponds
1599-404: Was formerly listed as the only species in the genus Catla , but this was a synonym of the genus Gibelion . More recently, Catalog of Fishes has moved this species to Labeo . This species has often been confused with the giant barb ( Catlocarpio siamensis ) of south-east Asia as the two taxa bear an extraordinary resemblance to each other, especially in their very large heads. The catla
1640-466: Was observed in the second generation in Vietnam , Moav and Wohlfarth (1976) showed positive results when selecting for slower growth for three generations compared to selecting for faster growth. Schaperclaus (1962) showed resistance to the dropsy disease wherein selected lines suffered low mortality (11.5%) compared to unselected (57%). The major carp species used traditionally in Chinese aquaculture are
1681-466: Was said to have been created after the flood by the god-emperor Yu, who split a mountain blocking the path of the Yellow River. It was so famous that throughout China was a common saying, "a student facing his examinations is like a carp attempting to leap the Dragon Gate." Henan is not the only place where this happens. Many other waterfalls in China also have the name Dragon Gate and much the same