76 



FISHES OF ILLINOIS 



Fir. 17 



CARPIODES CARPIO (Rafinesque) 



(COMMON RIVER CARP) 



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



J. & G., 118; M.V., 4 5 (Ictiobusi; J. & E., I, 166; X . 4'Mlchthyobus carpio and ( ?) 

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



Body elongate, subelliptical, somewhat compressed, but more fusi- 

 form 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 anterior nostril to end of 

 snout | to f of 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; inter- 

 orbital 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 h length of base of fin. Scales large, 6, 35-37, 6, 

 usuallv 3 5 or 36 in longitudinal series; lateral line complete, almost 

 straight; scales (as in difjonnis) somewhat thinner and less closely 

 imbricated than in thompsoni and velijer. 



Occurs throughout the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, ranging 

 southwest to central Texas. It seldom ascends the smaller streams, 

 and our o illecti ms 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 Mississippi River fish 

 ermerj sometimes to reach a weight of 101b. It is sold for food, but 



