Silver carp
D-Silberkarpfen; GB-Silver carp; DK-Sølvkarpe; PL-Tołpyga biała; LT-Baltasis plačiakaktis; LV-Baltais platpieris; EST-Harilik pakslaup; RU-Белый толстолобик; FIN-Hopeakarppi; S-Silverkarp
Characters
1) Eye situated very low (in the lower half of body).
2) Keeled abdomen from head to anal fin.
●) Head big, body moderately high.
●) Scales very small (110 to 124 in lateral line).
●) Often uniformely silvern.
Often up to 100 cm length and 50 kg weigth.
Similar species
Bighead carp - keel on belly restricted to area between pelvic and anal fin; marbled colour pattern; 13 rays in dorsal fin (vs. 10 in silver carp).
Biology
Not native in Europe: no natural reproduction possible. Sensitive to low temperatures (< 5°C).Diet
Larvae feed on small invertebrates; young and adult fish feed on phytoplankton, which they filter through their gill rakers.Importance
Introduced since about 1960 to control algal bloom in fish farming, but only with little succes; commercially important in aquaculture.Endangerment
Not endangered in the Baltic Sea, because the species is not native.Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
