Hypophthalmichthys nobilis
Bighead Carp
NS
G5
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Cypriniformes (Carps and Minnows)
Cyprinidae (Carps and Minnows)
Hypophthalmichthys
Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Bighead Carp)
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal. Body with numerous scattered small black blotches. Keels extend from pelvic base to anus. Barbels absent. Posterior margin of last simple dorsal ray not serrated. Branched anal rays 13-14.5 (Ref. 13274). Differs from Hypophthalmichthys molitrix by having scaled keel from pelvic to anal, 240-300 long gill rakes, head length 27-35% SL, dark overall coloration, flank with dark, large, very irregularly shaped blotches, fin bases and inferior parts of head and belly yellowish (Ref. 59043).
Distribution
Asia: China. Introduced to numerous countries and has achieved a near global distribution. However, its breeding requirements are very specialized and stocks are maintained by artificial reproduction or continuous importation. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction (Ref. 1739). Often confused with Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Ref. 59043).
Habitat Associations
Freshwater, brackish. benthopelagic. Found in: streams, lakes, estuaries.
Biology
In its natural environment, it occurs in rivers with marked water-level fluctuations, overwinters in middle and lower stretches. Forages in shallow (0.5-1.5 m deep) and warm (over 24°C) backwaters, lakes and flooded areas with slow current. Feeds on zooplankton throughout its life under natural conditions (Ref. 120904). Breeds in very deep, very turbid and warm water above 18°C (usually 22-30°C), with high current (1.1-1.9 m/s) and high oxygen concentrations. Stocked to large rivers and almost all still water bodies as lakes and ponds. In aquaculture, adults can survive brackish water (up to 7 ppt) when released into estuaries and coastal lakes. Feeds mainly on zooplankton, but also takes algae as food (Ref. 59043). Bottom feeding fish (Ref. 6459). Undertakes long distance upriver migration at start of a rapid flood and water-level increase (in April-July depending on locality). Spawns in upper water layer or even at surface during floods. Spawning ceases if conditions change and resumes again when water level increases. After spawning, adults migrate for foraging habitats, Larvae drift downstream and settle in floodplain lakes, shallow shores and backwaters with little or no current. During autumn-winter, when temperature drops to 10°C, juveniles and adults form separate large schools and migrate downstream to deeper places in main course of river to overwinter (Ref. 59043). Marketed fresh and frozen.
Max length: 146.0 cm SL; common length: 60.0 cm TL; max weight: 40000 g; max age: 20 years.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none. Produces up to 100,000 eggs (Ref. 2059). Eggs are yellowish, transparent, and hatch after about 2 days at temperatures around 25°C while drifting downstream in the deep open-water layer (Ref. 59043).
IUCN Red List Status: Data Deficient (DD), assessed 2010-09-02. Resilience: Medium (tm=3-5; tmax=20; K=0.15-0.27; Fec=50,000-1 million).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: highly commercial; gamefish; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums.
References
Etnier, D.A. and W.C. Starnes (1993) The fishes of Tennessee. The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. (pls. check date).
Kottelat, M., A.J. Whitten, S.N. Kartikasari and S. Wirjoatmodjo (1993) Freshwater fishes of Western Indonesia and Sulawesi = Ikan air tawar Indonesia Bagian Barat dan Sulawesi. Periplus Editions, Hong Kong. 293 p.
Abdusamadov, A.S. (1986) Biology of White Amur, Ctenopharyngodon idella, silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, and bighead, Aristichthys nobilis, acclimatized in the Terek region of the Caspian basin. J. Ichthyol. 26(4):41-49.
Cremer, M.C. and R.O. Smitherman (1980) Food habits and growth of silver and bighead carp in cages and ponds. Aquaculture 20:57-64.
Keith, P. and J. Allardi (coords.) (2001) Atlas des poissons d'eau douce de France. Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris. Patrimoines naturels, 47:1-387.
Kottelat, M. (2001) Freshwater fishes of northern Vietnam. A preliminary check-list of the fishes known or expected to occur in northern Vietnam with comments on systematics and nomenclature. Environment and Social Development Unit, East Asia and Pacific Region. The World Bank. 123 p.
Kottelat, M. and J. Freyhof (2007) Handbook of European freshwater fishes. Publications Kottelat, Cornol and Freyhof, Berlin. 646 pp.
Teletchea, F., A. Fostier, E. Kamler, J-N. Gardeur, P-Y. Le Bail, B. Jalabert and P. Fontaine (2009) Comparative analysis of reproductive traits in 65 freshwater fish species: application to the domestication of new fish species. Rev. Fish Biol. Fish. 19:403-430.
FAO (2019) Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Richardson, 1845). http://www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Hypophthalmichthys_nobilis/en. Accessed on 6 September 2019.
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