Bighead Carp

Catalogue Type
Livestock, Poultry and Fish Breeds Catalogue
Scientific Name
Hypophthalmichthys nobilis /Aristichthys nobilis
Family
Cyprinidae
Distinguishing Characters
Fusiform body with ventral keel from anal fin to pelvic fins.
Its head has no scales, a large mouth with no teeth, and a protruding lower jaw.
Eyes are located far forward and low on its head.
Dorsal fin with a single spine without serrations and with 8 soft rays;
Anal fin with a single spine without serrations and with 13-14 soft rays.
Terminal mouth without barbels.
The bighead carp can be identified by a smooth keel between the anal and pelvic fins that does not extend anterior of the base of the pelvic fins.
Category
Fishes
Photo of Livestock/Poultry/Fish Breed
Description
  • Solid gray on back, flanks silvery to light olive, grading to a white belly.
  • Sides often with numerous, small, dark, irregular blotches.
  •  Fins with somewhat darker pigmentation.
  • Forked caudal fin.
  • Pelvic fins abdominal.
  • No adipose fin. 
  •  Numerous small cycloid scales. .
  • Typical adult size is 400-700 mm TL (1.3-2.3 ft), with a maximum of about 1300 mm (4.3 ft).
  • Sharp ridges on anterior pectoral rays in breeding males.