34 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



pp. Scales in the lateral line 50-60; dorsal, pectoral 



and anal fins emmarginate or falcate; Colorado 



species with the first ray of the dorsal in front of 



the level of the ventrals. . Platygobio Gill, p. 62 



00. Scales in the lateral line 65-90; scales with both 



apical and basal radii; body subterate; mouth ventral 



and sucker-like. 



q. Premaxillaries not protractile, upper lip con- 

 tinuous with the skin of the top of the head, 

 frenum broad. . Rhinkhthys Agassiz, p. 63 

 qq. Premaxillaries protractile, upper lip not con- 

 tinuous with the skin of the top of the head, 

 frenum rarely present. Agosia Girard, p. 68 



cc. Scales entirely wanting; dorsal fin with a double spine; anal fin without a spine, pre- 

 maxillaries protractile; maxillary barbel present. . Plagopterus Cope, p. 70 



Subfamily Cyprininae 



Genus CYPRINUS (Artedi) Linnaeus 



The Carp 



Cyprinus (Artedi) Linnaeus, Systema Naturae, ed. X, p. 320, 1758. 



Body compressed; barbels long and prominent; scales large when present; 



dorsal fin elongate; dorsal and anal fins each with a serrate spine. Large species, 



natives of Central Asia. Represented in Colorado by the introduced German Carp. 



Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus 

 "German" Carp (Figs. 10 and 11) 



Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, Systema Naturae, ed. X, p. 320, 1758. 



Body compressed, deep and robust; dorsal profile elevated, ventral profile 

 sloping or almost straight; head large, subconic; depth of the body 2. 75 to 3. 25, 

 head 3 to 4 in the length to the base of the caudal; snout heavy, somewhat 

 pointed, 2.75 to 3.25 in the head; eye small, 5.5 to 6.5 in the head; dorsal 

 fin with a strong spine, the posterior edge of which is strongly serrate, and 17 to 21 

 rays, anterior fourth of the dorsal fin higher than the remaining posterior portion; 

 base of the dorsal spine in front of the level of the ventrals; pectorals almost 

 reaching the ventrals; ventrals not reaching the anal opening; anal fin short, 

 with a serrate spine and s or 6 rays; scales large when present, resembling those 

 of the suckers, with both basal and apical radii ; scales in completely scaled indi- 

 viduals s or 6, 35-38, 5 or 6, lateral line complete. In some individuals only a 

 few large scales along the lateral line and in the dorsal and ventral regions 

 remain; these fish are known as "Mirror Carp"; still others are completely scale- 

 less, the "Leather Carp." These forms are merely varieties or races of the 

 normally scaled type. 



Color olivaceous to bluish or dark green above, shading to yellowish below, 

 sides of young specimens often bright golden yellow, of adults usually a dirty 



