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Common carp
Cyprinus carpioLinnaeus, 1758
Identification
A heavy-bodied, bronze-to-gold fish with large scales and two pairs of barbels on its upper lip.
Where It's Found
Widely established in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across the entire continental U.S., tolerating warm, low-oxygen water better than most gamefish.
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Fishing Notes
A growing dedicated sportfishing target in the U.S. — corn, dough baits, and boilies fished on the bottom near feeding areas are standard European-style carp tactics.
Scientific Classification▾
Family
Cyprinidae
Genus
Cyprinus
Order
Cypriniformes
Class
Actinopterygii
Phylum
Chordata
Kingdom
Animalia
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Photography sourced from Wikimedia Commons contributors.