Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Japanese white crucian carp (Carassius cuvieri), recorded as Endangered
Japanese white crucian carp (Carassius cuvieri). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Endangered

Japanese white crucian carp

Carassius cuvieri

Japanese white crucian carp is a minnow in the family Cyprinidae (order Cypriniformes) — Carassius cuvieri, recorded as Endangered.

Status
Endangered
Scientific name
Carassius cuvieri
Taxonomy
Cypriniformes · Cyprinidae · Carassius

Appearance

This is a medium-sized fish, growing up to 50 cm, with a broad head and a blunt snout. The scales are large and cycloid in shape, with a complete lateral line. Serration is present on the last ray of the dorsal and anal fins, and the caudal fin is forked.

Range and habitat

Historically, the Japanese white crucian carp was endemic to Lake Biwa, as well as the connected Yodo River system, in Japan. It is a freshwater fish, preferring still or slow moving waters, and occurs at depths up to 20 meters. Typical habitats include lakes, canals, and backwaters.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

Diet and breeding

An omnivorous species, Japanese white crucian carp feed on a variety foods, among them algae, phytoplankton, macrophytes, and invertebrates, such as insects and crustaceans. Upon reaching 1.8 cm the young fish form schools and move offshore to feed on phytoplankton.

This is reflected in the unique structure of their pharyngeal teeth, that are specialized to feed on phytoplankton. Spawning occurs from April to June, and takes place in areas of aquatic vegetation, among them reed beds. Some individuals will migrate into connected satellite water bodies in order to spawn.

In crisis

It is found in Japan and, as an introduced species, in several other countries in Asia. The wild species in Lake Biwa is listed as an endangered species in the Japanese Red Data Book. Factors in its decline include water pollution, invasive species, and overfishing.

Japanese white crucian carp is Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Japanese white crucian carp, Wikidata item Q1090973. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Also in this catalog

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Vaquita

Phocoena sinus
Photograph of Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Javan rhinoceros

Rhinoceros sondaicus
Photograph of Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Sumatran orangutan

Pongo abelii
Photograph of Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Axolotl

Ambystoma mexicanum

Quick answers

What is Japanese white crucian carp?
Japanese white crucian carp is a minnow in the family Cyprinidae (order Cypriniformes) — Carassius cuvieri.
What is the conservation status of Japanese white crucian carp?
Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Carassius cuvieri. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Japanese white crucian carp live?
Historically, the Japanese white crucian carp was endemic to Lake Biwa, as well as the connected Yodo River system, in Japan.
Why is Japanese white crucian carp in crisis?
It is found in Japan and, as an introduced species, in several other countries in Asia.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Carassius cuvieri?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Japanese white crucian carp a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.