Scientific Name: Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes, 1844)
English Name: Silver carp
Local/Bangla Name: Silver carp (সিলভার কার্প)
Photo: Balaram Mahalder
Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Description:
Dorsal spines (total): 1 – 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-7; Anal spines: 1-3; Anal soft rays: 10 – 14. Body olivaceous to silvery. Barbels absent. Keels extend from isthmus to anus. Edge of last simple dorsal ray not serrated. Branched anal rays 12-13.5 (Ref. 13274). Differs from Hypophthalmichthys nobilis by having sharp scaleless keel from pectoral region to anal origin, 650-820 long, slender gill rakers, head length 24-29% SL, and plain pale coloration, greenish grey above, whitish below
Habitat & Distribution in Bangladesh:
Found in their natural range in rivers with marked water-level fluctuations and overwinters in middle and lower stretches, swimming just beneath the surface.
Environment:
Freshwater, Brackish (Benthopelagic; potamodromous)
Comments:
Exotic fish in Bangladesh. It hasbeen introduced from Hongkong (1969) for the purpose of Aquaculture.
References:
Siddiqui KU, Islam MA, Kabir SMH, Ahmad M, Ahmed ATA, Rahman AKA, Haque EU, Ahmed ZU, Begum ZNT, Hasan MA, Khondker M and Rahman MM (eds.) (2007) Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh. Vol. 23. Freshwater Fishes. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka. 300+xxxi. pp.
DoF Bangladesh (2023) Album: Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Bangladesh, Dhaka. 200 pp.
