Common Carp

Cyprinus carpio

Very common & widespread in ponds & lakes across Britain & Ireland.

Has a robust build, with a dark gold sheen that is most prominent on its head.

Its body is adorned with large, conspicuous scales that are very shiny.

It has large pectoral fins and a tapering dorsal fin running down the last two-thirds of its body, getting progressively higher as it nears the carp's head.

Its caudal and anal fins may either be a dark bronze or washed with a rubbery orange hue.

Two or three spines are on the anal fin, the first being serrated, and the dorsal fin has three or four anterior spines, the first of which is also serrated.