Loading...
Initial language selection is based on your web browser preferences.
Distribution: Native from Europe to Asia: Black, Caspian and Aral Sea basins
Size Length: Up to 120 cm (max. registered)
Weigh: Up to 40.1 Kg (max. registered)
Life Span: 30‒40 years
Diet: Omnivore
Social life: Gregarious when juvenile, solitary when adult
IUCN red list status: Vulnerable
This fresh water fish has robust body built and thick scales. Distinguished by having 2 pairs of barbells; dorsal fin with 15‒20½ branched rays; caudal fin deeply emarginated with 3 spines and 17‒19 rays. Even though the animals possess a toothless mouth it has pharyngeal teeth.
Its colour ranges from gold to brown in its common wild forms.
The animal also has been artificially selected all over the years to achieve different forms and a wide variety of colours (orange, white, red, yellow, black and even blue) thus giving origin to a worldwide known hobby dedicated to the specie aquaculture for pet and ornamental purposes, (animals obtained are designated as koi carps).
Although it is native from Europe and Asia this specie is now spread all over the world due to its introduction mainly for sport fishing purposes and also the escape from aquaculture facilities.
