What is the scientific name of the common carp, a freshwater fish introduced worldwide?

The scientific name of the common carp is Cyprinus carpio.

Common carp are native across much of Europe and Asia, but people have transported them widely for food, aquaculture, ornamental ponds, and sport fishing. Their scientific name places them in the genus Cyprinus and the carp family, Cyprinidae.

The common carp is often confused with the goldfish, Carassius auratus, because both belong to the carp family and can live in ponds. Goldfish are a domesticated form of the Prussian carp, not the common carp. Koi are domesticated varieties of common carp, usually distinguished by their striking color patterns.

Common carp tolerate a broad range of water conditions and feed by stirring bottom sediments. This habit can increase turbidity and disturb aquatic plants, which is why introduced populations are considered invasive in some regions. Their long history with humans makes them one of the world’s most widely distributed freshwater fishes.