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National Invasive Species Information Center
U.S. Department of Agriculture
  1. Home
  2. Aquatic Invasives
  3. Fish and Other Aquatic Vertebrates
  4. Invasive Carp

Invasive Carp

Carp are a family of fish native to Europe and Asia. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) has been in the United States for over 100 years. The common carp is considered a nuisance fish or a pest fish. See Species Profile: Common Carp (Nonindigenous Aquatic species Database) for more information.

The newest invaders, bighead carp, black carp, grass carp, and silver carp that originated from Asia are collectively known as invasive carp or Asian carp. These invasive carp species are causing issues in the Mississippi river and surrounding waters. Invasive carp are fast-growing and prolific feeders that out-compete native fish and leave a trail of environmental destruction in their wake. 

The four types of invasive carp currently found in the U.S. were imported into the country for use in aquaculture ponds. Through flooding and accidental releases, black, grass, bighead and silver carps found their way into the Mississippi River system. The Mississippi River system is like a giant freshwater highway that has given invasive carp species access to many of the country’s rivers and streams.

  • Bighead carp, adult

    Bighead Carp

    Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Richardson, 1845) (ITIS)

  • Black carp

    Black Carp

    Mylopharyngodon piceus (Richardson, 1846) (ITIS)

  • Grass carp

    Grass Carp

    Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844) (ITIS)

  • Silver carp, adult

    Silver Carp

    Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844) (ITIS)

Species Information Disclaimer

NISIC provides general information about species considered to be invasive and our information does not have any regulatory implications. There are more than 6,500 invasive species established across the United States. The large numbers of invasive species prevent us from maintaining detailed information on all invasive species. In addition, determining the invasiveness of a species depends on a number of local factors, including type of habitat. The species profiles included on NISIC's site are intended to be an educational resource and should not be considered to be an official list of invasive species by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.