Asian Carp Identification Key
If you think you've spotted an Asian carp, take a photo and report it by calling the Invading Species Hotline 1-800-563-7711, downloading the EDDMapS App, or through the EDDMapS website.
Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)
Figure 1. An illustration of Bighead Carp, a species of Asian carp. Bighead Carp have small scales, and a short dorsal fin that is slightly set back from the pelvic fin origin. Their eye sits below the centre of the body and they lack barbels. Their pectoral fin extends past the pelvic fin origin and their anal fin is moderate sized in length. Their keel extends from the pelvic fin to the anal fin.
Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
Figure 2. An illustration of Silver Carp, a species of Asian carp. Silver Carp have small scales, and a short dorsal fin that is slightly set back from the origin of the pelvic fin. Their eye sits below the centre of the body, and they lack barbels. Their pectoral fin does not reach the origin of the pelvic fin and the base of their anal fin is moderate sized in length. Their keel extends from well before the pelvic fin to the anal fin and it is not serrated.
Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)
Figure 3. An illustration of Grass Carp, a species of Asian carp. Grass Carp have a curved line that extends from the gill to the tail. Their dorsal fin is short and rounded and has no spine. They lack barbels. Their dorsal fin origin is slightly ahead of the pelvic fin. Their anal fin is short in length and has no spine.
Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus)
Figure 4. An illustration of Black Carp, a species of Asian carp. Black Carp have a short and rounded dorsal fin with no spine. They lack barbels and their dorsal fin origin is slightly ahead of the pelvic fin. Their anal fin is short in length and has no spine.
Commonly Confused With
Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Figure 5. An illustration of Common Carp, which is not a species of Asian carp. The locations of the long dorsal, anal and pelvic fins, the presence of a single dorsal fin and the presence of barbels, are indicated on the illustration. Illustration by © Joseph R. Tomelleri