76 



FISHES OF ILLINOIS 



CARPIODES CARPIO (Eafinesque) 



COMMON RIVER CARP 



(Map XII) 



Rafinesque, 1820, Ichth. Oh., 56 (Catostomus). 



J. & G., 118; M. v., 45 (Ictiobus); J. & E., I, 166; N., 49 (Ichthyobus carpio and (?) 

 bison); J., 65 (carpio and (?) bison); F., 81 (Ictiobus cyprinus, part); L., 11, 



Body elongate, subelliptical, somewhat compressed, but more fusiform 

 than in the next species, the back not greatly arched and the ventral line 

 nearly straight; depth 2.9 to 3.3 in length. Size large, frequently taken 

 weighing 3 or 4 lb and said sometimes to reach a weight of 7 or 8 lb. Color 

 smoky to olivaceous over silvery, lighter below. Head short, deep and 

 heavy, its length 4 to 4.4, depth 4.9 to 5.4, width 6 to 6.8 in length of body; 

 snout short, somewhat pointed, 3.3 to 4.1 in head; the nostrils well forward, 

 but not quite so much so as in the next species, the distance from the an- 

 terior nostril to end of snout ^ to j/^ oi diameter of eye; mouth wide 

 and short, wholly inferior, the tip of lower lip very slightly in advance of 

 nostrils; lips thin, the halves of lower meeting at a very wide angle or open 

 curve; interorbital space 2.2 to 2.6 in head; eye moderate, 4.4 to 5.1 in head. 

 Dorsal rays 23 to 27, the first rays notably osseous at base, little elongated, 

 about yo length of base of fin. Scales large, 6, 35-37, 6, usually 35 or 36 in 

 longitudinal series; lateral line complete, almost straight; scales (as in diffor- 

 mis) somewhat thinner and less closely imbricated than in thompsoni and 

 velifer. 



' Occurs throughout the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, ranging 

 southwest to central Texas. It seldoms ascends the smaller 

 streams, and our collections have come mainly from the Illinois 

 at Meredosia and Havana, and from the Mississippi at Grafton. 

 We have not found it anywhere abundant. It is said by Mis- 

 sissippi River fishermen sometimes to reach a weight of 10 lb. 



