Common Carp
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Name and Code
Family
Cyprinidae - carps
Species
Cyprinus carpio
Taxonomic Authority
Linnaeus 1758
Common Name(s)
Common Carp
French Name
carpe commune
Species Code
186
Family TSN
163342
Parent TSN
163343
Species TSN
163344
Conservation Status
Global Rank (GRank)
G5 (1996-09-13)
National Rank (NRank)
NNA (2017-12-22)
Provincial Rank (SRank)
SNA (1988-11-22)
COSEWIC Status
none
SARO Status
none
AFS Status
none
Status Notes
none
Ecological Value
Ontario Origin
introduced
General Abundance
common
Tolerance
tolerant
Economic Importance
coarse fish; commercial fishery
Length-Weight Regression Coefficents
Intercept (a)
-4.56
Slope (b)
2.95
Length Basis
FL
Habitat and Feeding
General Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Environment
benthopelagic
Trophic Class
invertivore/detritivore
Thermal Regime
warmwater
Habitat Preference
pools of small to large low gradient rivers, lakes, reservoirs and ponds, with abundant aquatic vegetation, at depths of <30 m; preferred water temperature range 27-32°C
Reproduction
Reproductive Guild
Nonguarders: Open substratum spawners: Phyto-lithophils
Spawning Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawning Month(s)
May-August
Spawning Temperature (°C)
17-26
Fecundity
36,000-2,208,000
Nursery Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Size and Age
Adult Length (cm)
35.3-76.2 TL
Adult Weight (kg)
0.6-6.0
Age at Maturity (yrs)
2-4 (m); 3-5 (f)
Maximum Length (cm)
129 TL
Maximum Weight (kg)
46.1
Lifespan (yrs)
9-20
Ontario Records
Record Length (cm)
104.1 TL
Record Weight (kg)
19
Ontario Range Map
Common Carp range
Ontario Distribution
widespread in southern Ontario, including Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, Ottawa River and their tributaries; introduced to Great Lakes in 1879
Photographs
Common Carp photograph
Common Carp photograph
Notes
indigenous to Eurasia; tolerant of turbidity, low dissolved oxygen and wide water temperature range; varieties include "mirror carp" (enlarged scattered scales) and "leather carp" (scales absent); use as bait prohibited
Information Sources
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