Bighead carp are also filter feeders, but they filter larger particles than silver carp and in general consume a greater proportion of zooplankton in their diets than silver carp, which consume more phytoplankton.

It is native to the large rivers and associated floodplain lakes of eastern Asia. Asian carp can dominate native fisheries in both abundance and in biomass. Bighead carp flesh does share one unfortunate similarity with common carp flesh – both have intramuscular bones within the filet. Bighead Carp. Their eyes are located forward and low on the head, well below the axis of the body.

Asian carp … Total production worldwide was recorded over 3 million tones in the year of 2013, principally from China. Fast Facts. However, bighead carp captured from the wild in the United States tend to be much larger than common carp, so the intramuscular bones are also larger and thus less problematic. Size Maximum of more than 80 pounds and nearly 5 feet in length. Coloration is dark gray above and cream-colored below with dark gray to black irregular blotches on the back and sides. Bighead carp can live over 20 years, maturing at about 3 years. Search Britannica They form a sister group to the tunicates, together forming the olfactores. Name of animal-plant: Bighead carp Species name: Hypopthalmichthys nobilis Animal type: FISHA fish is any member of a group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic craniate animals that lack limbs with digits. The bighead carp differs from the silver carp in its behavior (it does not leap from the water when startled) and also in its diet. The bighead carp is a large filter feeding fish that can weigh up to 110 pounds and grow to four and a half feet.

U.S. wildlife-management official holding up a bighead carp ( They have also been known to hybridize (cross-breed) with silver carp and produce viable, reproductive offspring.Spawning can occur in many water bodies including moderate to large rivers and lakes with areas of slow current and depths of more than 6 feet. They are dark gray with black blotches on the back and sides. Quick Facts Origin : Large rivers and lakes in eastern China and far eastern Russia.

By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. They are active in cold water and begin to feed at water temperatures above 35° Fahrenheit, preferring temperatures of 39 to 78° Fahrenheit. The bighead carp lacks a true stomach which requires it to feed almost continuously.Bighead carp mature in 2 to 3 years, commonly weighing up to 40 pounds, but under the right conditions they can grow to more than 80 pounds (rare). Categories  bighead carp nutrition facts and nutritional information.

Gill rakers are long, comb-like and close-set allowing the carp to strain planktonic organisms from the water for food. Bighead carp can reach 110 pounds, although 30 to 40 pounds is considered average (silver carp are generally smaller). Find calories, carbs, and nutritional contents for bighead carp and over 2,000,000 other foods at MyFitnessPal.com. Bighead carp mature in 2 to 3 years, commonly weighing up to 40 pounds, but under the right conditions they can grow to more than 80 pounds (rare). Features  Bighead carp are extremely hardy and can adapt to many temperate freshwater environments.Bighead carps are voracious eaters and consume a wide range of zooplankton, detritus and small invertebrates, outcompeting native species for food. It is one of the most intensively exploited fishes in aquaculture. Life Span 16+ years. Diet Zooplankton, detritus and small invertebrates. A bighead carp is a deep-bodied, or wide, fish with a large toothless mouth and very large head. The Bighead Carp fish is a species of freshwater fish, and one of the several Asian carps. Other articles where Bighead carp is discussed: Asian carp: The grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), following their accidental introduction into waterways in the United States, are collectively referred to as Asian carp. Hypophthalmichthys nobilis.

Login The average bighead carp caught in Minnesota is 41 inches and 35 pounds. Origin Large rivers and lakes in eastern China and far eastern Russia. Check out Britannica's new site for parents!