Grass carp

📖 Overview

Adults occur in lakes, ponds, pools and backwaters of large rivers , preferring large, slow-flowing or standing water bodies with vegetation . They are tolerant of a wide range of temperatures from 0° to 38°C, and salinities to as much as 10 ppt and oxygen levels down to 0.5 ppm . They feed on higher aquatic plants and submerged grasses; takes also detritus, insects and other invertebrates. One of the world's most important aquaculture species and also used for weed control in rivers, fish ponds and reservoirs . Spawning takes place on riverbeds with very strong current . Utilized also fresh and eaten steamed, pan-fried, broiled and baked . Considered as a pest in most countries because of the damages made to submerged vegetation .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 10 - 14. Diagnosis: No barbels; snout very short, its length less than or equal to eye diameter; postorbital length more than half head length . 18 soft rays for caudal fin . Diagnosed from rather similar species Mylopharyngodon piceus by having the following characters: body olive to brassy green above, silvery white to yellow below; body cylindrical; pharyngeal teeth laterally compressed, serrated, with a groove along grinding surface, usually in two rows, 2,5-4,2 .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Grass carp is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Grass carp is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Spawns in gravel bottomed areas of rivers . Eggs are pelagic and hatch while drifting downstream in 2-3 days .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; potamodromous ; depth range 0 - 30 m . Subtropical; 0°C - 35°C ; 50°N - 23°N, 100°E - 142°E

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 68 records indexed .

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