Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758 [I]—Common carp; Carp chaeh

Taxonomy. Original description: Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758: 320 [Europe; syntypes: BMNH 1853.11.12.139 (1, skin)].—Syrian synonyms: None.—Revisions: Berg (1949: 831).—Illustration: Berg (1949: 833, fig. 572).

Status in Syria. First record from Syria by Beckman (1962: 122); confirmed record from Syria based on MNHN material, collected in 1998, Barakat et al. (2020).—Syrian material: MNHN, MSL.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Syria: Orontes, Tigris and Euphrates River basins and translocated somewhere.—Distribution in River Basin: 1-Dajleh & Khabour, 2-Euphrates & Aleppo, 6-Coastal.—General distribution: Western Europe (native to Black Sea basin, possibly also Caspian and Aral seas basins), widely introduced worldwide, also many multicolor varieties.—Distribution in Ecoregion: 436-Coastal Levant, 441-Lower Tigris & Euphrates, 442-Upper Tigris & Euphrates.—Habitat: This species inhabits warm, deep, slow-flowing, and still waters, such as lowland rivers and large, well-vegetated lakes. Introduced in all types of water bodies. Spawns along shorelines or in backwaters. Successful survival of larvae is only possible in very warm water, among shallow submerged vegetation. Freshwater, brackish.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Reasons of introduction. Aquaculture/research; Fisheries: enhancement of wild stocks and sports fishing.

Conservation. Not relevant (introduced species).