Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782)

Freyhof, Jörg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 160-161

Carassius gibelio

Common name. Prussian carp.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from C. carassius in West Asia by: ● flank silvery / ● last simple anal and dorsal rays strongly serrated/ ● 38–52gill rakers/ ○ 26–33total lateral-line scales / ● free edge of dorsal concave or straight / ● usually 5½ branched anal rays / ● peritoneum black. Size up to 350 mm SL.

Distribution. Mitochondria of this species are found throughout West Asia. Often considered native from Central Europe to Siberia.As there are no historical records from Europe or West Asia, considered non-native to region. Native to Amur drainage in Russia and China and introduced in Europe with fish imported from Amur. Introduced from Europe to North Africa, West Asia, and elsewhere.

Habitat. Identical to C. auratus .

Biology. Usually, diploid and tetraploid individuals of both sexes, often together with triploid females. Also, all-female populations where all individuals are triploids. Triploids reproduce by gynogenesis as sperm parasites of other species,such as Cyprinus carpio and various leuciscids.Lives about 10 years. Spawns first time at 3−4 years in central and eastern Europe,at 1−2 years in West Asia. Spawns May−July at temperatures above 14°C, with spawning most intensive in early morning. Older individuals spawn earlier in season than younger ones. Males move to spawning sites before females. Single female spawns with several males. Males follow mature female, often with much splashing. Female spawn up to three times per season.Sticky eggs are attached to water plants or other submerged objects. Feeding larvae and juveniles inhabit highly complex habitats such as reed beds. Omnivorous, feeding on plankton, benthic invertebrates, plant material, and detritus.

Conservation status. Non-native; introduced as a weed with stocked carp.

Further reading. Kottelat 1997 (systematics); Vasil’ev & Vasil’eva 2000 (genetics); Szczerbowski 2002 (biology; as C. auratus , in part); Hänfling et al. 2005 (genetics); Kottelat & Freyhof 2007 (distribution, biology); Yerli et al. 2014 (distribution).

Figures

Carassius gibelio