The Fishy Survivor

The common carp is a fish that lives along the muddy bottoms of ponds, lakes, and rivers. It swallows plants, insects, and anything else it finds to eat. It was first found in Asia but was later taken into Europe and North America. Some people like to eat carp.

Sometimes carp can live 100 years and grow to weigh 80 pounds or more. But not all carp grow that old or that heavy. The fish that are caught usually are under 10 years old and do not weigh more than 10 pounds.

The carp has a blunt nose and a small thick-lipped mouth. From its upper lip dangle two pairs of feelers that are called “barbels”.

There are three kinds of common carp. The scale carp has large scales all over its wide heavy body. Its back is olive green, its sides are gold-colored, and its belly is bright yellow. The mirror carp has only three or four rows of huge scales along its sides. The leather carp is almost without scales, but it has a very thick skin.

In some ways the carp is a nuisance. In hunting for food, the carp muddies the water. This affects the life of many plants and animals. A carp sometimes pushes more valuable fish away from their food and also eats their eggs. The carp has a habit of pulling out plants from their roots. This keeps ducks away. It is very difficult to get rid of carp. The fish can thrive even in dirty water and can also survive in very warm and very cold water. []

Image Source: https://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/595

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Aceh, Indonesia

26th April 2016

TM. Noumi