Grass carp

species of fish

The grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is a very big herbivorous and freshwater fish species of the family Cyprinidae. It is from east Asia native to eastern Asia. It was originally found from northern Vietnam to the Amur River on the Siberia-China border. This Asian carp is the only species of the genus Ctenopharyngodon.

Grass carp
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Squaliobarbinae
Genus: Ctenopharyngodon
Steindachner, 1866
Species:
C. idella
Binomial name
Ctenopharyngodon idella
(Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1844)
Synonyms
  • Leuciscus idella Valenciennes, 1844
  • Ctenopharingodon idellus (Valenciennes, 1844)
  • Ctenopharyngodon idellus (Valenciennes, 1844)
  • Leuciscus tschiliensis Basilewsky, 1855
  • Ctenopharyngodon laticeps Steindachner, 1866
  • Sarcocheilichthys teretiusculus Kner, 1867
  • Pristiodon siemionovii Dybowski, 1877
Adult grass carp
Juvenile grass carp

It is used in China for food. It was introduced in Europe and the United States to help weed control underwater. This species of fish has the biggest production in aquaculture in the world. Over five million tonnes per year are sold.[1]

References change

Other websites change

  • Species Profile - Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), National Invasive Species Information Center, United States National Agricultural Library. Lists general information and resources for Grass Carp.
  • "Ctenopharyngodon idella". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 11 March 2006.