Key Characteristics:

• Most have a lateral stripe. Single dorsal fin. Pigment on top of the head.
• Dorsal fin begins after the start of the pelvic fin in some species (emerald and golden shiners).
• Very hard to key out to species except for a few unique species until about 20 mm.
• More pre-anal myomeres than post.
• Rounded head, brown melanophores. “y” marker behind gills (arrow below)

Larval Common Carp’s “Y” Marker. 6 mm. United States Fish Wildlife Service. Green Bay Harbor, WI. Ashley Smith. 2017.

Larval Common Carp. United States Fish Wildlife Service. Marian Shaffer. 2017.

Larval common Carp’s Myomeres (Pre-Anal). United States Fish Wildlife Service. Marian Shaffer. 2017.

Larval Common Carp. 7 mm. United States Fish Wildlife Service. Green Bay Harbor, WI. Adam Dziewa. 2018.

Larval Common Carp. 15 mm. United States Fish Wildlife Service. Green Bay Harbor, WI. Ashley Smith. 2018.

Dr. Auer’s Dichotomous Key

• Body not elongated, eel-shaped, round in transverse section, uniformly pigmented (1B)
• Chin barbels absent (3B)
• Snout short, its length usually less than 10% TL; median fins otherwise (5B)
• Median fins or finfolds showing distinct separation (7B)
• No adipose fin, or demarcation of one, in finfold (10B)
• Preanal myomeres greater than or equal to postanal myomeres (14A)
• Preanal myomeres significantly greater than postanal myomeres (difference greater than five myomeres) (15B)
• Postanal myomeres greater than 10 (26B)
• Preanal myomeres usually less than 30 (28A)
  • Cyprinidae (Carps + Minnows)

Adult History

• Physical Description 
  • (Subterminal) Extendable mouth, deep and flattened body, two pairs of barbels, long dorsal fin with a serrated spine, yellow/brown with dark-olive sides, dorsal fin has 15-23 rays while anal fin has 4-6 rays, 32-38 lateral scales, no teeth, and scales have a darker appearance with a spotted pattern
• Spawning Habitat
  • Rivers, lakes, marshes, forested swamps, ponds, turbid waters, and vegetated areas of streams 
  • Very shallow water & lake edges (Energetic splashing along the shore)
• Spawning Substrate
  • Over aquatic vegetation, tree roots, mud bottom, or gravel in water bodies
• Spawning Behavior
  • Guard their eggs until hatching or until the young are able to swim
• Time of Year
  • Mid-May – Early August in Great Lakes Basin
  • Spawning typically takes place at water temperatures of 60-80°F
• Diet
  • Omnivores
    • Insects, crustaceans, mollusks, algae, other submerged plants
    • Seeds, nymphs, leeches, crayfish, and shrimp

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