The termcarp (pl.: carp) is a genericcommon name for numerous species offreshwater fish from thefamilyCyprinidae, a very largeclade ofray-finned fish mostly native toEurasia. While carp are prizedquarries and are valued (evencommercially cultivated) as bothfood andornamental fish in many parts of theOld World,^[1] they are consideredtrash fish andinvasivepests in many parts ofAfrica,Australia and most of theUnited States.^[2][3]

The cypriniformes (family Cyprinidae) are traditionally grouped with theCharaciformes,Siluriformes, andGymnotiformes to create the superorderOstariophysi, since these groups share some common features. These features include being found predominantly in fresh water and possessingWeberian 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 is in contact with the extension of thelabyrinth 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 theswim bladder to the labyrinth and in the perception of sound, which would explain why the Ostariophysi have such a great capacity for hearing.^[4]

Most cypriniformes have scales and teeth on 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.^[4] Some consider all cyprinid fishes carp^{[by whom?]}, and the family Cyprinidae itself is often known as the carp family.

In colloquial use, carp usually refers only to several larger cyprinid species such asCyprinus carpio (common carp),Carassius carassius (crucian carp),Ctenopharyngodon idella (grass carp),Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (silver carp), andHypophthalmichthys nobilis (bighead carp). Common carp are native to bothEastern Europe andWestern Asia,^[5] so they are sometimes called a "Eurasian" carp.

Carp have long been an important food fish to humans. Several species such as the variousgoldfish (Carassius auratus) breeds and the domesticated common carp variety known askoi (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 the United States,^[6] and, worldwide, large sums of money are spent on carp control.^[7]

At least some species of carp are able to survive for months with practically nooxygen (for example under ice or in stagnant, scummy water) by metabolizingglycogen to formlactic acid which is then converted intoethanol andcarbon dioxide. The ethanol diffuses into the surrounding water through thegills.^[8][9][10]

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Some prominent carp in the family Cyprinidae
Common name	Scientific name	Max length (cm)	Common length (cm)	Max weight (kg)	Max age (yr)	Trophic level	Fish Base	FAO	ITIS	IUCN status
Silver carp	Hypophthalmichthys molitrix(Valenciennes, 1844)	105	18	50		2.0	[11]	[12]	[13]	Near threatened[14]
Common carp (European carp)	Cyprinus carpio(Linnaeus, 1758)	110	31	40.1	38	3.0	[15]	[16]	[17]	Vulnerable[18]
Grass carp	Ctenopharyngodon idella(Valenciennes, 1844)	150	10.7	45.0	21	2.0	[19]		[20]	Not assessed
Bighead carp	Hypophthalmichthys nobilis(Richardson, 1845)	146	60	40.0	20	2.3	[21]		[22]	Data deficient[23]
Crucian carp	Carassius carassius(Linnaeus, 1758)	64	15	3.0	10	3.1	[24]		[25]	Least concern[23]
Catla carp (Indian carp)	Cyprinus catla(Hamilton, 1822)	182		38.6		2.8	[26]		[27]	Not assessed
Mrigal carp	Cirrhinus cirrhosus(Bloch, 1795)	100	40	12.7		2.5	[28]		[29]	Vulnerable[30]
Black carp	Mylopharyngodon piceus(Richardson, 1846)	122	12.2	35	13	3.2	[31]		[32]	Not assessed
Mud carp	Cirrhinus molitorella(Valenciennes, 1844)	55.0	15.2	0.50		2.0	[33]		[34]	Near threatened[18]
Caspian roach	Rutilus caspicus(Yakovlev, 1870)	45	32.5	2			[35]			Least concern[36]

Anglers posing with very large carp

In 1653Izaak Walton wrote inThe Compleat Angler, "The Carp is the queen of rivers; a stately, a good, and a very subtle fish; that was not at first bred, nor hath been long inEngland, but is now naturalised."

Carp are variable in terms ofangling value.

• In Europe, even when not fished for food, they are eagerly sought by anglers, being considered highly prizedcoarse fish that are difficult to hook.^[37] TheUK has a thriving carp angling market, with the British record carp standing at 68lb 1oz.^[38] It is the fastest growing angling market in the UK, and has spawned a number of specialised carp angling publications such asCarpology,^[39]Advanced carp fishing,Carpworld^[40] andTotal Carp, and informative carp angling web sites, such asCarpfishing UK^[41] andCarp Squad.
• In the United States, carp are also classified as arough fish, as well as a damaging naturalized exotic species, but with sporting qualities. Carp have long suffered from a poor reputation in the United States as undesirable for angling or for the table, especially since they are typically an invasive species out-competing more desirable local game fish. Nonetheless, many states' departments of natural resources are beginning to view the carp as an angling fish instead of a maligned pest. Groups such as Wild Carp Companies,^[42] American Carp Society,^[43] and the Carp Anglers Group^[44] promote the sport and work with fisheries departments to organize events to introduce and expose others to the unique opportunity the carp offers freshwater anglers.
  The common carp is one of the most abundant species of carp found in most rivers, creeks, lakes, and ponds throughout the Midwest region of the United States. Common carp are a particularly strong fish that fight hard on the end of anglers' lines, making them an appealing target for recreational fisherman.^[45] Since its introduction to the waters of the United States in the 1880s^[46] these fish have been viewed as a game fish, despite the fact that they are a destructive, and invasive species.

Various species of carp have beendomesticated andreared asfood fish across Europe and Asia for thousands of years. These various species appear to have been domesticated independently, as the various domesticated carp species are native to different parts ofEurasia.Aquaculture has been pursued inChina for at least 2,400 years. A tract byFan Li in the fifth century BC details many of the ways carp were raised inponds.^[48] The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is originally fromCentral Europe.^[49] Several carp species (collectively known asAsian carp) were domesticated inEast Asia. Carp that are originally fromSouth Asia, for examplecatla (Gibelion catla),rohu (Labeo rohita) andmrigal (Cirrhinus cirrhosus), are known asIndian carp. Their hardiness and adaptability have allowed domesticated species to be propagated all around 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 inWestern Europe has diminished. Demand has declined, partly due to the appearance of more desirable table fish such astrout andsalmon throughintensive farming, and environmental constraints. However, fish production in ponds is still a major form of aquaculture in Central andEastern Europe, including theRussian Federation, where most of the production comes from low or intermediate-intensity ponds. InAsia, the farming of carp continues to surpass the total amount of farmed fish volume of intensively sea-farmed species, such as salmon andtuna.^[50]

Selective breeding programs for the common carp include improvement in growth, shape, and resistance to disease. Experiments carried out in theUSSR usedcrossings ofbroodstocks 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.^[51][52] Selected carp for fast growth and tolerance to cold, the Ropsha carp.^{[citation needed]} 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 was observed in the second generation inVietnam,^[53] Moav and Wohlfarth (1976) showed positive results when selecting for slower growth for three generations compared to selecting for faster growth.^[54] Schaperclaus (1962) showed resistance to the dropsy disease wherein selected lines suffered low mortality (11.5%) compared to unselected (57%).^[55]

The major carp species used traditionally in Chinese aquaculture are theblack,grass,silver andbighead carp. In the 1950s, the Pearl River Fishery Research Institute in China made a technological breakthrough in the inducedbreeding of these carps, which has resulted in a rapid expansion of freshwater aquaculture in China.^[56] In the late 1990s, scientists at theChinese Academy of Fishery Sciences developed a new variant of thecommon carp called the Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var.Jian). This fish grows rapidly and has a highfeed conversion rate. Over 50% of the total aquaculture production of carp in China has now converted to Jian carp.^[56][57]

Carp, along with many of theircyprinid 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 byCarassius carassius andCarassius gibelio. They were first bred for color in China over 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 toJapan in 1603, and to Europe in 1611.^[58]

Nishikigoi, better known simply as koi, are a domesticated varieties ofcommon carp andAmur 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 theNiigata region resulted in koi.^[59] In Japanese culture, koi are treated with affection, and seen as good luck.^[60] They are popular in other parts of the world as outdoor pond fish.^[61]

WikibooksCookbook has a recipe/module on

• Carp

• Bighead carp is enjoyed in many parts of the world, but it has not become a popular foodfish in North America. Acceptance there has been hindered in part by the name "carp", and its association with the common carp which is not a generally favored foodfish in North America. The flesh of the bighead carp is white and firm, different from that of the common carp, which is darker and richer. Bighead carp flesh shares one similarity with common carp flesh – both have intramuscular bones within the filet. However, bighead carp captured from the wild in the United States tend to be much larger than common carp, so the intramuscular bones are also larger and thus less problematic.
• Common carp, breaded and fried, is part of traditional Christmas Eve dinner inSlovakia,Poland, eastern part ofCroatia and in theCzech Republic. In pond based water agriculture it is treated as most prominent food fish. Some recipes are specifically for carp such as the "sweet-and-sour carp" (Chinese:糖醋鯉魚;pinyin:Tángcù Lǐyú) and "thickmiso soup with carp" (Japanese:鯉こく,romanized: Koikoku).
• Crucian carp is considered^{[by whom?]} the best-tasting pan fish in Poland. It is known askaraś, and is served traditionally with sour cream (karasie w śmietanie).^[62] In Russia, this particular species is calledЗолотой карась, meaning "golden crucian", and is one of the fish used in aborscht recipe calledborshch s karasej^[63] (Борщ с карасе́й) orborshch s karasyamiБорщ с карася́ми).
• Mud carp, due to the low cost of production, is mainly consumed by the poor, locally; it is mostly sold alive, but can be dried and salted.^[64] An important food fish inGuangdong Province, it is also cultured in this area andTaiwan. Mud carp is sometimes canned or processed asfish cakes,fish balls,^[65] ordumplings,^[64] as used inCantonese andShunde cuisines. It can be combined withdouchi or Chinese fermented black beans in a dish calledfried dace with salted black beans. It can be served cooked with vegetables such asChinese cabbage.
• Fisherman's soup
• Kuai
• Taramosalata
• Masgouf, a popularIraqi dish consisting of seasoned, grilled carp.
• Gefilte fish, anAshkenazi Jewish dish made from a poached mixture of ground deboned fish, primarily carp, whitefish, and pike.

• Carp-based dishes
• 
  Catla kalia – a popular fish curry preparation from West Bengal, India
• 
  Carp curry, India
• 
  Fried carp fromFranconia, Germany
• 
  Pan-fried Crucian carp, Russia
• 
  Traditional Christmas dinner – fried carp with potato salad, Czech Republic
• 
  Stir-fried Crucian carp with rice, Japan
• 
  Carp fish in spices and herbs cooked in a banana leaf package,Sundanese
• 
  Deep-fried chunk of pickled (pla som) silver barb (Pla taphian)
• 
  Barbecued carp,northern Croatia
• 
  Koikoku (thickmiso soup with carp), Japan

Common carp
The original Chinese character for "carp" inseal script (top), Traditional (middle), and Simplified (bottom) characters
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	鯉魚
Simplified Chinese	鲤鱼
Literal meaning	"carp-fish"
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin lǐyú Wade–Giles li3-yü2 IPA [lì.y̌] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization léih-yùh Jyutping lei5-jyu4 IPA [lej˩˧.jy˩]
Japanese name
Kanji	鯉
Transcriptions Romanization koi

A long tradition of common carp exists in Chinese culture and literature. A popular lyric circulating as early as 2,000 years ago in the lateHan 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 theYellow River atHenan (Chinese:河南;pinyin:Hénán;Wade–Giles:Ho-nan) is a waterfall called theDragon Gate. It is said that if certain carp calledyulong 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 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 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 the royal or a noble family, perhaps through marriage, but in particular through success in theimperial 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 is usually colored in gold or pink, shimmering with an unmistakably auspicious tone.

The modern JapaneseKoi fish are a brightly colored species of theAmur carp that have been bred by rice farmers in Japan since the early 19th century.^[66] This subspecies of carp plays a significant role in Japanese art, often being depicted as symbols of luck, strength, and tenacity.^[67] 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 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 representSamurai warriors, as they are able to be seen swimming upwards against a rivers current, symbolizing 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.^[68]

• Invasive species
• Oily fish
• Rough fish

• Chistiakov, D.; Voronova, N. (2009)."Genetic evolution and diversity of common carp Cyprinus carpio L."Cent. Eur. J. Biol.4 (3):304–312.doi:10.2478/s11535-009-0024-2.
• Molokhovet︠s︡, Elena (1998).Classic Russian Cooking: Elena Molokhovets' a Gift to Young Housewives. Indiana University Press. p. 674.ISBN 978-0-253-21210-8.
• Strybel, Robert; Strybel, Maria (2005).Polish Heritage Cookery. Hippocrene Books. p. 384.ISBN 978-0-7818-1124-8.

• The dictionary definition ofcarp at Wiktionary
• Media related toCarp at Wikimedia Commons

• Carp
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