Family Cyprinidae
The common carp is a member of the Family Cyprinidae, a grouping of about 2,000 species that includes the goldfish and the Oriental Koi. This family also includes many fish found in an aquarium, such as the barbs, rasboras and danios.
Asia Minor Origin
The wild ancestor of the common carp, or Cyprinus carpio, originated in the Black, Caspian and Aral seas near the southern border of Russia. From there, the fish spread east to China and the Orient, and west to the Danube River and Europe. Currently, the wild species is endangered, while the domesticated offshoot thrives all over the world.
Europe
The Romans were the first to show interest in raising carp, both to eat and to look at. From there, the carp spread through Europe, where it is more highly regarded than it is in the United States.
China and Japan
The carp might have traveled from Europe to China and then Japan, where the fish is more prized for its colorful variations than as a food source.
United States
The carp were introduced to the United States in the middle of the 19th century as a food source that might help feed the country. Quickly, the bottom-feeding fish established itself throughout much of the country's waterways, sometimes to the detriment of native species.
Article Written By Henri Bauholz
Henri Bauholz is a professional writer covering a variety of topics, including hiking, camping, foreign travel and nature. He has written travel articles for several online publications and his travels have taken him all over the world, from Mexico to Latin America and across the Atlantic to Europe.
