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Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Richardson, 1845)

Bighead carp
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Hypophthalmichthys nobilis
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United States (contiguous states) country information

Common names: Bighead carp
Occurrence: introduced
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: common (usually seen) | Ref: Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 2011
Importance: commercial | Ref: Missouri Department of Conservation, 2008
Aquaculture: commercial | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: live export: yes;
Comments: Introduced into Arkansas in 1972 to improve water quality in aquaculture facilities. Has established in Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio river basins from central Kentucky to South Dakota and south to Louisiana (Ref. 86798). Recorded from the Arkansas rivers, and Mississippi River in Missouri (Ref. 10294). Has established in aquaculture through assisted/artificial reproduction. Has not established in the wild (Ref. 1739). Found in open water of large rivers, backwaters, floodplain lakes, reservoirs and ponds. Young sometimes occurs in small creeks (Ref. 86798). A popular fish sold in live fish markets. Found in 4 out of 6 live fish markets near the Lakes Erie and Ontario (Ref. 53249). Also Ref. 12589.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html
National Fisheries Authority: http://www.nmfs.gov
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 2011
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Classification / Names Nomi Comuni | Sinonimi | Catalog of Fishes(Genere, Specie) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

> Cypriniformes (Carps) > Xenocyprididae (East Asian minnows)
Etymology: Hypophthalmichthys: Greek, hypo = under + Greek, ophthalmos = eye + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335);  nobilis: nobilis, meaning noble (Ref. 10294).
  More on author: Richardson.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecologia

; acqua dolce; salmastro benthopelagico; potamodromo (Ref. 51243); distribuzione batimetrica 0 - ? m (Ref. 59043).   Temperate; 1°C - 38°C (Ref. 120904); 34°N - 21°N, 101°E - 123°E (Ref. 121042)

Distribuzione Stati | Aree FAO | Ecosystems | Presenze | Point map | Introduzioni | Faunafri

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).

Length at first maturity / Size / Peso / Age

Maturity: Lm 64.2, range 55 - 70 cm
Max length : 146 cm SL maschio/sesso non determinato; (Ref. 59043); common length : 60.0 cm TL maschio/sesso non determinato; (Ref. 2059); peso massimo pubblicato: 40.0 kg (Ref. 59043); Età massima riportata: 20 anni (Ref. 59043)

Short description Chiavi di identificazione | Morfologia | Morfometria

Spine dorsali (totale) : 3; Raggi dorsali molli (totale) : 7; Spine anali: 1 - 3; Raggi anali molli: 12 - 14. 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).

Biologia     Glossario (es. epibenthic)

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.

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Riproduzione | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larve

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).

Main reference Upload your references | Bibliografia | Coordinatore | Collaboratori

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. (Ref. 44416)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Data deficient (DD) ; Date assessed: 02 September 2010

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Potential pest




Human uses

Pesca: elevato interesse commerciale; Acquacoltura: commerciale; Acquario: Acquari pubblici
FAO(Aquaculture systems: production, species profile; pesca: production; publication : search) | FishSource | Sea Around Us

Informazioni ulteriori

Trophic ecology
Prede
Diet compositions
Food consumptions
Food rations
Predatori
Ecology
Ecologia
Home ranges
Population dynamics
Growths
Max. ages / sizes
Length-weight rel.
Length-length rel.
Length-frequencies
Mass conversions
Recruitments
Abundances
Life cycle
Riproduzione
Maturities
Fecundities
Spawnings
Spawning aggregations
Egg(s)
Egg developments
Larve
Dinamica popolazioni larvali
Distribution
Stati
Aree FAO
Ecosystems
Presenze
Introduzioni
BRUVS - Videos
Anatomy
Gill areas
Cervelli
Otoliths
Physiology
Body compositions
Nutrients
Oxygen consumptions
Swimming type
Swimming speeds
Visual pigment(s)
Suoni dei Pesci
Diseases / Parasites
Toxicities (LC50s)
Genetics
Genetica
Electrophoreses
Heritabilities
Human related
Aquaculture systems
Profili di acquacoltura
Varietà
Ciguatera cases
Stamps, coins, misc.
Outreach
Collaboratori
References
Bibliografia

Strumenti

Special reports

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Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804):  PD50 = 0.6250   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00861 - 0.01161), b=3.10 (3.06 - 3.14), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Ref. 69278):  2.8   ±0.33 se; based on food items.
Resilienza (Ref. 120179):  Medio, tempo minimo di raddoppiamento della popolazione 1.4 - 4.4 anni (tm=3-5; tmax=20; K=0.15-0.27; Fec=50,000-1 million).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  High vulnerability (64 of 100).
Price category (Ref. 80766):   Unknown.