The Koi Carp (Cyprinus rubrofuscus) is a freshwater fish in the Cyprinidae family of carp. Koi Carp are coloured varieties of the Amur Carp. It is a cyprinid fish.

The Koi Carp can be many colours, such as white, black, red, orange, yellow, blue, and cream. It is an oval-shaped fish with medium-to-large fins and tail. It has black eyes. It has short barbels on the corners of its mouth, like whiskers. 

It grows to about 100 centimetres (39 inches) in length.

It is from Central Europe and Asia, especially Japan. It is commonly found in ponds, streams, and aquarium tanks.

The Koi Carp is omnivorous. It eats a wide variety of food, such as aquatic plants, snails, and fish. It is usually a bottom feeder. Its predators include birds, otters, raccoons, cats, foxes, badgers, and hedgehogs.

The female lays thousands of eggs that sink to the bottom of the pond. Most of the eggs are eaten by other fish and aquatic creatures. The eggs hatch after 4-7 days. The young are called fry.

Koi Carp can live for a long time, such as more than 50 years. 

Location of photographs: Aquarium de Paris-Cinéaqua

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM