Species profile
European Carp
Cyprinus carpio
At a glance
European Carp (Cyprinus carpio) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 13 of 65 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Connecticut); the most generous is 100 (Missouri).
Confirmed by 12,831 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Ontario, and Texas the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- European carp can live more than 20 years and in some cases weigh over 80 pounds.
- Originally native to Asia, they were introduced to Europe and then North America centuries ago.
- Carp stir up bottom sediment while feeding, clouding the water and damaging aquatic plant beds.
- Two pairs of barbels — sensory organs around the mouth — help them locate food on the bottom.
- They are listed among the world's 100 worst invasive species by the IUCN.
Where European Carp are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for European Carp
Background
The common carp, also known as European carp, Eurasian carp, or simply carp, is a widespread freshwater fish of eutrophic waters in lakes and large rivers in Europe and Asia. The native wild populations are considered vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), but the species has also been domesticated and introduced into environments worldwide, and is…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's European Carp article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.