Carp are any of several fish species in the genus Cyprinus but usually refer to the common, or European, carp ( Cyprinus carpio ). These hardy, greenish-brown fish are native to Eurasia but have been introduced to North America and elsewhere. Carp are large-scaled fish with two barbels on each side of their upper jaw, and they live alone or in small schools in quiet, weedy, mud-bottomed ponds, lakes, and rivers. Carp are omnivorous, and while rooting for food, they often stir the water, increasing turbidity and adversely affecting many plants and animals. As a result, they are often considered undesirable, and much effort may be devoted to their extermination. Carp are often raised for food, especially in Europe and Asia, because it is possible to produce large amounts of fish per acre.

Where do carp usually live?

Carp commonly inhabit quiet, weedy environments with muddy bottoms, such as ponds, lakes, and rivers. They are native to Eurasia but have been introduced to North America and other regions. During winter, carp become inactive at the bottom of the water and cease feeding. They typically spawn in the spring, with females depositing numerous eggs on plants or detritus, usually in shallow water. Carp are also raised for food in aquaculture, especially in Europe and Asia, using different types of ponds throughout their life cycle.

Carp are omnivorous fish that typically live alone or in small schools in quiet, muddy ponds, lakes, and rivers. They are not picky eaters and consume a variety of foods, including plankton , invertebrates , and detritus . When searching for food, carp often stir up the water, which can make it cloudy and negatively impact other plants and animals. In fish farms and aquaculture settings, carp are often fed soybean meal, rice bran, or concentrated food pellets.

How can you identify a carp from other fish?

Carp can be identified by their greenish-brown color and large scales. They have two barbels on each side of their upper jaw, which are sensory, whisker-like appendages. Carp generally live in quiet, weedy, mud-bottomed ponds, lakes, and rivers, either alone or in small schools. They are omnivorous, often stirring up the water as they search for food, which can increase the water's turbidity. There are a few varieties of carp, such as the mirror carp, which has a few large scales, and the leather carp, which is almost scaleless. Koi are ornamental fish with colorful body patterns. The crucian carp is a European relative of the goldfish but lacks barbels. Another related species is the black carp, which is brownish-black with a bluish-gray belly.

Why are carp sometimes considered invasive species?

Carp are sometimes considered an invasive species because of their feeding habits and rapid colonization, which can disrupt native aquatic ecosystems. Several carp species, including the common carp and Asian carp (grass, bighead, black, and silver carp), have been introduced to regions outside their native Eurasia. Once introduced, carp can outcompete native species for food and habitat. They feed on plankton, invertebrates, and detritus, altering food webs. Carp also uproot aquatic vegetation while searching for food, increasing water turbidity, which harms other plants and animals. These factors can lead to the carp being labeled as undesirable, resulting in efforts to control or eliminate them in certain areas.

How have people used or raised carp throughout history?

Throughout history, carp have been significant for both food and ornamental purposes. Carp farming, a practice employed globally, demonstrates sophisticated techniques, especially in Europe where different ponds are used during the carp's life cycle. In Asia, common carp are often raised in rice fields, a method known as wetland cultivation. The ornamental carp, known as koi, is a domesticated variant of the common carp and is raised and bred similarly to carp raised for food. Carp have been introduced to North America and other places, but they are sometimes seen as undesirable because they stir up the water while hunting for food, which raises turbidity and has a negative impact on numerous plants and animals.

carp

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A common carp (Cyprinus carpio) swims underwater, showing its large, thick body, rounded fins, and dark, overlapping scales.

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carp

fish species

Also known as: Cyprinus carpio, common carp

Written and fact-checked by

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Last updated

Oct. 10, 2026 •History

Top Questions

What is a carp?
Carp are any of several fish species in the genus Cyprinus but usually refer to the common, or European, carp (Cyprinus carpio). These hardy, greenish-brown fish are native to Eurasia but have been introduced to North America and elsewhere. Carp are large-scaled fish with two barbels on each side of their upper jaw, and they live alone or in small schools in quiet, weedy, mud-bottomed ponds, lakes, and rivers.

Carp are omnivorous, and while rooting for food, they often stir the water, increasing turbidity and adversely affecting many plants and animals. As a result, they are often considered undesirable, and much effort may be devoted to their extermination. Carp are often raised for food, especially in Europe and Asia, because it is possible to produce large amounts of fish per acre.
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Where do carp usually live?
Carp commonly inhabit quiet, weedy environments with muddy bottoms, such as ponds, lakes, and rivers. They are native to Eurasia but have been introduced to North America and other regions. During winter, carp become inactive at the bottom of the water and cease feeding. They typically spawn in the spring, with females depositing numerous eggs on plants or detritus, usually in shallow water. Carp are also raised for food in aquaculture, especially in Europe and Asia, using different types of ponds throughout their life cycle.
2 Britannica Sources
1. carp
2. aquaculture: Carp
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What do carp eat?
Carp are omnivorous fish that typically live alone or in small schools in quiet, muddy ponds, lakes, and rivers. They are not picky eaters and consume a variety of foods, including plankton, invertebrates, and detritus. When searching for food, carp often stir up the water, which can make it cloudy and negatively impact other plants and animals.

In fish farms and aquaculture settings, carp are often fed soybean meal, rice bran, or concentrated food pellets.
2 Britannica Sources
1. carp
2. aquaculture: Carp
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How can you identify a carp from other fish?
Carp can be identified by their greenish-brown color and large scales. They have two barbels on each side of their upper jaw, which are sensory, whisker-like appendages. Carp generally live in quiet, weedy, mud-bottomed ponds, lakes, and rivers, either alone or in small schools. They are omnivorous, often stirring up the water as they search for food, which can increase the water's turbidity.

There are a few varieties of carp, such as the mirror carp, which has a few large scales, and the leather carp, which is almost scaleless. Koi are ornamental fish with colorful body patterns. The crucian carp is a European relative of the goldfish but lacks barbels. Another related species is the black carp, which is brownish-black with a bluish-gray belly.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Why are carp sometimes considered invasive species?
Carp are sometimes considered an invasive species because of their feeding habits and rapid colonization, which can disrupt native aquatic ecosystems. Several carp species, including the common carp and Asian carp (grass, bighead, black, and silver carp), have been introduced to regions outside their native Eurasia.

Once introduced, carp can outcompete native species for food and habitat. They feed on plankton, invertebrates, and detritus, altering food webs. Carp also uproot aquatic vegetation while searching for food, increasing water turbidity, which harms other plants and animals. These factors can lead to the carp being labeled as undesirable, resulting in efforts to control or eliminate them in certain areas.
2 Britannica Sources
1. carp: Asian carp as invasive species
2. Asian carp
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How have people used or raised carp throughout history?
Throughout history, carp have been significant for both food and ornamental purposes. Carp farming, a practice employed globally, demonstrates sophisticated techniques, especially in Europe where different ponds are used during the carp's life cycle. In Asia, common carp are often raised in rice fields, a method known as wetland cultivation.

The ornamental carp, known as koi, is a domesticated variant of the common carp and is raised and bred similarly to carp raised for food.

Carp have been introduced to North America and other places, but they are sometimes seen as undesirable because they stir up the water while hunting for food, which raises turbidity and has a negative impact on numerous plants and animals.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

carp, widely, any of several fish species classified in the genus Cyprinus in the family Cyprinidae but usually, and narrowly, the common, or European, carp (Cyprinus carpio) and its close relatives within the genus Cyprinus. The carp is a hardy greenish brown fish. It is native to Eurasia but has been introduced into North America and elsewhere. A large-scaled fish with two barbels on each side of its upper jaw, the carp lives alone or in small schools in quiet weedy mud-bottomed ponds, lakes, and rivers. It is omnivorous, and in rooting about for food it often roils the water, increasing turbidity and adversely affecting many plants and animals. As a result, it is often considered undesirable, and much effort may be devoted to its extermination.

Common carp

In winter the common carp becomes torpid, retires to the bottom, and stops feeding. It usually spawns in spring, when the female deposits numerous eggs on plants or detritus, usually in shallow water. The eggs hatch four to eight days later. Carp grow rapidly, attain sexual maturity about their third year, and in captivity may live more than 40 years. They average about 35 cm (14 inches) in length but may grow to more than 100 cm (39 inches) and 22 kg (49 pounds).

Carp are often raised for food, especially in Europe and Asia, because it is possible to produce large amounts of fish per acre. Two domesticated varieties are the mirror carp (with a few large scales) and the leather carp (almost scaleless). The crucian carp (Carassius carassius) is a barbel-less European relative of the goldfish. The common carp was introduced to North America as a sport fish and food fish during the middle of the 19th century, and it was farmed by private interests as well as by state and federal fish-and-game authorities in the United States (see also aquaculture). The fish spread quickly throughout North American waterways, and by the 20th century the common carp was considered to be an invasive nuisance fish, because it competed with native species for food and living space and uprooted aquatic vegetation, which increased the cloudiness (turbidity) of rivers and lakes.

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Despite the common carp’s astounding success as a colonizer, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) lists it as a vulnerable species. The IUCN notes that its assessment refers to the native populations in Eurasia, whose stocks continue to hybridize with domesticated varieties and common carp introduced from other areas.

Asian carp as invasive species

grass carpFisherman in Slovakia holding a grass carp (*Ctenopharyngodon idella*).

silver carpSmall silver carp (*Hypophthalmichthys molitrix*) jumping in the upper Mississippi River after being startled by boat motor noise.

Other carp species have received much attention for being invasive. Like the common carp, they are known for feeding rapaciously on plankton, invertebrates, and detritus and thus often upset aquatic food webs in areas where they are introduced. Species collectively referred to as Asian carp—the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)—were brought to North America during the 1960s and ’70s to control the growth of noxious aquatic plants, snails, and other pest organisms in ponds, fish farms, and small lakes. Floods and bait-release by sport fishers allowed members of these species to colonize the Mississippi River system, where they have largely disrupted native aquatic ecosystems. Scientists fear that Asian carp may one day enter Lake Michigan through the Illinois River and that their populations may become established enough to disturb the ecological dynamics of the Great Lakes. To prevent this from occurring, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed a series of defensive measures (such as noisemakers, curtains, and electric fish barriers) in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, the main connections between the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins.

Koi

koiOrnamental carp, or koi, swimming in a pond in Japan.

Koi, a popular ornamental fish, are thought to descend from the common carp. Some researchers claim that ornamental koi are derived from populations of wild koi native to the Black, Aral, and Caspian seas and freshwater areas in China; however, genetic studies suggest that these fishes are domesticated Amur carp (Cyprinus rubrofuscus), a species whose native range extends from the Amur River west to Mongolia and south through eastern China to Vietnam and Laos. The Amur carp was classified as C. carpio haematopterus, a subspecies of the common carp, until the early 2010s. The separation of the two species from one another being relatively recent, researchers remain divided on how koi should be classified.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.

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Asian carp as invasive species

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