The Mirror Carp (Cyprinus carpio carpio) is a freshwater fish. It is related to the Common Carp. It is a cyprinid.
The Mirror Carp is dark-grey with a large body and scales that look like mirrors. The scales are irregular and patchy, and some parts of its body do not have scales. It has a forward protruding mouth with barbels at the side of its lips.
It grows to about 120 centimetres (47 inches) long.
The Mirror Carp is native to Europe. It prefers freshwater lakes and large slow-moving rivers, or still rivers, but it can tolerate most conditions.
It is omnivorous, eating fish, crustaceans, worms, and insects. It also eats some aquatic plants.
It is often seen in schools of five or more individuals.
It is oviparous. The female lays about 300,000 eggs, most of which are eaten by predators. The eggs hatch into small fish called fry.
Location: Aquarium de Paris-Cinéaqua, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM