Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, Bighead carp : fisheries, aquaculture, gamefish, aquarium

You can sponsor this page

Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Richardson, 1845)

Bighead carp
Upload your photos and videos
Bilder | Videos | Google image
Image of Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Bighead carp)
Hypophthalmichthys nobilis
Picture by Ramani Shirantha


Malaysia country information

Common names: Bighead carp, Kap kepala besar, Tongsan
Occurrence: not established
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: minor commercial | Ref: FAO, 1994
Aquaculture: commercial | Ref: FAO, 1997
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Introduced in the 1800s (Ref. 1739). Fingerlings were stocked in the Durian Tunggal, Paya Nakoh and Ampang reservoirs and aquaculture is widespread. It has established in aquaculture through assisted/artificial reproduction but not the wild (Ref. 1739). Also Ref. 13364.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/my.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Welcomme, R.L., 1988
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Classification / Names Populärnamn | synonymer | Catalog of Fishes(Släkte, Arter) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

> Cypriniformes (Carps) > Xenocyprididae (East Asian minnows)
Etymology: Hypophthalmichthys: Greek, hypo = under + Greek, ophthalmos = eye + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335)nobilis: nobilis, meaning noble (Ref. 10294).
More on author: Richardson.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / djupintervall / distribution range Ekologi

; sötvatten; brackvatten bentopelagisk; flodvandrande (Ref. 51243); djupintervall 0 - ? m (Ref. 59043). Temperate; 1°C - 38°C (Ref. 120904); 34°N - 21°N, 101°E - 123°E (Ref. 121042)

Utbredning Länder | FAO områden | Ekosystem | Förekomster | Prickkarta | Utplanteringar | Faunafri

Asia: China. Introduced to numerous countries and has achieved a near global distribution. However, its breeding requirements are very specialized and stocks are maintained by artificial reproduction or continuous importation. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction (Ref. 1739). Often confused with Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Ref. 59043).

Length at first maturity / Size / Vikt / Age

Könsmognad: Lm 64.2, range 55 - 70 cm
Max length : 146 cm SL hane/ej könsbestämd; (Ref. 59043); common length : 60.0 cm TL hane/ej könsbestämd; (Ref. 2059); publicerad maxvikt: 40.0 kg (Ref. 59043); rapporterad maxålder: 20 år (Ref. 59043)

Short description Bestämningsnycklar | Morfologi | Morfometri

Taggstrålar i ryggfenan (totalt) : 3; Mjukstrålar i ryggfenan (totalt) : 7; Taggstrålar i analfenan: 1 - 3; Mjukstrålar i analfenan: 12 - 14. Body with numerous scattered small black blotches. Keels extend from pelvic base to anus. Barbels absent. Posterior margin of last simple dorsal ray not serrated. Branched anal rays 13-14.5 (Ref. 13274). Differs from Hypophthalmichthys molitrix by having scaled keel from pelvic to anal, 240-300 long gill rakes, head length 27-35% SL, dark overall coloration, flank with dark, large, very irregularly shaped blotches, fin bases and inferior parts of head and belly yellowish (Ref. 59043).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.

Biologi     Ordlista (t.ex. epibenthic)

In its natural environment, it occurs in rivers with marked water-level fluctuations, overwinters in middle and lower stretches. Forages in shallow (0.5-1.5 m deep) and warm (over 24°C) backwaters, lakes and flooded areas with slow current. Feeds on zooplankton throughout its life under natural conditions (Ref. 120904). Breeds in very deep, very turbid and warm water above 18°C (usually 22-30°C), with high current (1.1-1.9 m/s) and high oxygen concentrations. Stocked to large rivers and almost all still water bodies as lakes and ponds. In aquaculture, adults can survive brackish water (up to 7 ppt) when released into estuaries and coastal lakes. Feeds mainly on zooplankton, but also takes algae as food (Ref. 59043). Bottom feeding fish (Ref. 6459). Undertakes long distance upriver migration at start of a rapid flood and water-level increase (in April-July depending on locality). Spawns in upper water layer or even at surface during floods. Spawning ceases if conditions change and resumes again when water level increases. After spawning, adults migrate for foraging habitats, Larvae drift downstream and settle in floodplain lakes, shallow shores and backwaters with little or no current. During autumn-winter, when temperature drops to 10°C, juveniles and adults form separate large schools and migrate downstream to deeper places in main course of river to overwinter (Ref. 59043). Marketed fresh and frozen.

Life cycle and mating behavior Könsmognad | Reproduktion | Lek | Ägg | Fecundity | Larver

Produces up to 100,000 eggs (Ref. 2059). Eggs are yellowish, transparent, and hatch after about 2 days at temperatures around 25°C while drifting downstream in the deep open-water layer (Ref. 59043).

Main reference Upload your references | referenser | Koordinator | Medarbetare

Kottelat, M., 2001. Freshwater fishes of northern Vietnam. A preliminary check-list of the fishes known or expected to occur in northern Vietnam with comments on systematics and nomenclature. Environment and Social Development Unit, East Asia and Pacific Region. The World Bank. 123 p. (Ref. 44416)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)

  Data deficient (DD) ; Date assessed: 02 September 2010

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Potential pest





Human uses

Fiskeri: kommersiellt viktig; Vattenbruk: kommersiell; sportfisk: ja; Akvarium: Offentliga akvarier
FAO - Aquaculture systems: produktion, species profile; fiskeri: landings; Publication: search | FishSource | Sea Around Us

Ytterligare information

Trophic ecology
Food items (preys)
Födosammansättning
Födointag
Food rations
Predatorer
Ekologi
Ekologi
Home ranges
Population dynamics
Tillväxtparametrar
Max. ages / sizes
Length-weight rel.
Length-length rel.
Length-frequencies
Mass conversion
Rekrytering
Abundans
Life cycle
Reproduktion
Könsmognad
Maturity/Gills rel.
Fecundity
Lek
Spawning aggregations
Ägg
Egg development
Larver
Larvdynamik
Anatomy
Gälyta
Brain
Otolith
Physiology
Body composition
Nutrients
Syreförbrukning
Swimming type
Simhastighet
Visual pigments
Fish sound
Diseases & Parasites
Toxicity (LC50s)
Genetik
Genome
Genetik
Heterozygosity
Ärftlighet
Human related
Aquaculture systems
Vattenbruksprofiler
Avelslinjer
Ciguatera cases
Stamps, coins, misc.
Outreach
Medarbetare
referenser
referenser

Verktyg

Special reports

Download XML

Internet-källor

Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804):  PD50 = 0.6250   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00977 (0.00841 - 0.01135), b=3.10 (3.06 - 3.14), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref. 93245).
Trofisk nivå (Ref. 69278):  2.8   ±0.33 se; based on food items.
Resiliens (Ref. 120179):  Mellan, lägsta populationsfördubblingstid 1,4-4,4 år (tm=3-5; tmax=20; K=0.15-0.27; Fec=50,000-1 million).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  High vulnerability (64 of 100). 🛈
Price category (Ref. 80766):   Unknown.
Nutrients (Ref. 124155):  Calcium = 15.1 [5.5, 42.3] mg/100g; Iron = 0.422 [0.206, 0.879] mg/100g; Protein = 17.1 [16.0, 18.3] %; Omega3 = 0.543 [0.287, 1.037] g/100g; Selenium = 14.3 [7.2, 28.2] μg/100g; VitaminA = 10.6 [2.8, 41.9] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.271 [0.152, 0.501] mg/100g (wet weight); based on nutrient studies.