- carp
-
carp1
—carper, n./kahrp/, v.i.1. to find fault or complain querulously or unreasonably; be niggling in criticizing; cavil: to carp at minor errors.n.2. a peevish complaint.[1200-50; ME carpen to speak, prate < ON karpa to brag, wrangle]Syn. 1. criticize, deprecate, condemn, censure.carp21. a large freshwater cyprinid fish, Cyprinus carpio, native to Asia but widely introduced in tropical and temperate waters: an important food fish in many countries.2. any of various other fishes of the family Cyprinidae.[1350-1400; ME carpe < MF < MD or MLG karpe; c. OHG karpfo]
* * *
Hardy, greenish brown fish (Cyprinus carpio, family Cyprinidae) native to Asia but introduced into Europe, North America, and elsewhere.Large-scaled, with two barbels (fleshy, whiskerlike feelers) on each side of its upper jaw, the carp lives alone or in small schools in quiet, weedy, mud-bottomed ponds, lakes, and rivers. An omnivore, it often stirs up sediment while rooting about for food, adversely affecting many plants and animals. Carp grow to an average length of about 14 in. (35 cm); some grow to 40 in. (100 cm) and 49 lbs (22 kg). In captivity they may live more than 40 years.* * *
▪ fish species(species Cyprinus carpio), hardy, greenish brown fish of the family Cyprinidae. It is native to Asia but has been introduced into Europe, North America, and elsewhere. A large-scaled fish with two barbels on each side of its upper jaw, the carp lives alone or in small schools in quiet, weedy, mud-bottomed ponds, lakes, and rivers. It is omnivorous, and in rooting about for food it often roils the water, increasing turbidity and adversely affecting many plants and animals. As a result, it is often considered undesirable, and much effort may be devoted to its extermination.In winter the carp becomes torpid, retires to the bottom, and stops feeding. It usually spawns in spring, when the female deposits numerous eggs on plants or detritus, usually in shallow water. The eggs hatch four to eight days later. Carp grow rapidly, attain sexual maturity about the third year, and in captivity may live more than 40 years. They average about 35 cm (14 inches) in length but may grow to more than 100 cm and 22 kg (49 pounds).The carp is often raised for food, especially in Europe and Asia, because it is possible to produce large amounts of fish per acre. Two domesticated varieties of the species are the mirror carp (with a few large scales) and the leather carp (almost scaleless). The crucian carp (Carassius carassius) is a barbel-less European relative of the goldfish. The grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is an Asian species that has been introduced into North America.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
