Fish profile · Cyprinidae

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

SportFreshwater Introduced to MalaysiaLeast Concern (IUCN)

Common carp is a large Eurasian freshwater fish that has been moved widely for food production and fishing. It searches bottom sediments for food, often clouding the water and disturbing aquatic plants. Its cultivated forms include mirror and leather carp.

Last reviewed 26 October 2026 · 4 sources

Photo of Common carp — (c) Ong Jyh Seng, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC BY-SA

Max length: 122 cm
IUCN: LC; Least Concern
In Malaysia: Introduced
Family: Cyprinidae; order Cypriniformes

Category from the IUCN Red List, via GBIF (CC BY 4.0); it may lag the latest Red List assessment.

How big?

Linear scale · person 170 cm

Up to 122 cm.

The person is 170 cm tall.

Where in Malaysia

2 open-licence records · GBIF

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Recorded (open records)

Recorded in Pahang and Sarawak. Based on 2 open-licence records on GBIF. Few records can mean few surveys, not few fish.

How to identify

Gold to brown body with reddish fins
Barbels beside the mouth
Blunt snout and triangular head

Habitat

Lakes Reservoirs Lowland rivers Estuaries

Lakes, ponds and slow lower river reaches; it also tolerates some brackish water.

Diet: Bottom-dwelling invertebrates, plant material, detritus and plankton.
Native range: Eurasia, including the Caspian, Black and Aral Sea basins and the Danube region.

More photos

Common carp, photo 2 — (c) Юлия, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY

Common carp, photo 3 — (c) Юлия, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY

Sources

Last reviewed 26 October 2026