Disclaimer:

The Nonindigenous Occurrences section of the NAS species profiles has a new structure. The section is now dynamically updated from the NAS database to ensure that it contains the most current and accurate information. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. The table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on the states, years, and drainages selected. References to specimens that were not obtained through sighting reports and personal communications are found through the hyperlink in the Table 1 caption or through the individual specimens linked in the collections tables.

---

Common name: Bighead Carp

Synonyms and Other Names: Aristichthys nobilis (Richardson, 1845), Leuciscus nobilis Richardson, 1845

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.gov

Identification: The bighead carp is a large, narrow fish with eyes that project downward. Coloration of the body is dark gray, fading to white toward the underside, and with dark blotches on the sides. Its head has no scales, a large mouth with no teeth, and a protruding lower jaw. Its eyes are located far forward and low on its head. It is very similar to the silver carp, and can be distinguished by the dark coloration on its sides. The bighead carp can be identified by a smooth keel between the anal and pelvic fins that does not extend anterior of the base of the pelvic fins.

Distinguishing characteristics were given in Berg (1949) and Jennings (1988). Distinguishing characteristics, along with keys that include this species and photographs or illustrations also were included in a few of the more recently published state fish books (e.g., Robison and Buchanan 1988; Etnier and Starnes 1993; Pflieger 1997). A commonly used name is Aristichthys nobilis. Maximum size: 40 kg and 71.6 cm (Jennings 1988).

Size: 40 kg and 1.4 m

Native Range: Southern and central China (Li and Fang 1990; Robins et al. 1991).

Alaska	Hawaii	Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands	Guam Saipan

Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Ecology: Bighead carp is a powerful filter-feeder with a wide food spectrum that grows fast and reproduces quickly (Xie and Chen 2001), which makes this species a strong competitor. The diet of this species overlaps with that of planktivorous species (fish and invertebrates) and to some extent with that of the young of virtually all native fishes. Bighead carp  are thought to deplete plankton stocks for native larval fishes and mussels (Laird and Page 1996). Bighead carp lack a true stomach which requires them to feed almost continuously (Henderson 1976).

Female bighead carp reach sexual maturity at three years of age, while males can reach sexual maturity in two years; however, this varies significantly with changing environmental conditions (Huet 1970; Kolar et al. 2007).  Bigheaded carps are only known to spawn in large, turbulent rivers and it is believed that a rising hydrograph (flood event) is a primary spawning cue (Kolar et al. 2007). Fecundity increases with age and body weight and is directly related to growth rate (Verigin et al. 1990). In its native range, Bighead Carp has a fecundity ranging from 280,000-1.1 million eggs. In North America, fecundity ranged from 4,792-1.6 million eggs (Kipp et al. 2011).  Bighead carp produce eggs that are semi-buoyant and require current to keep them from sinking to the bottom (Soin and Sukhanova 1972; Pflieger 1997).  The eggs float for 40-60 hours before hatching.

Means of Introduction: Bighead carp were first imported into the United States in 1973 by a private fish farmer in Arkansas who wanted to use them in combination with other phytophagous fishes to improve water quality and increase fish production in culture ponds. In 1974 the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Auburn University, Alabama, obtained stock to assess their potential benefits and impacts (Jennings 1988). The species first began to appear in open waters, the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, in the early 1980s, likely as a result of escapes from aquaculture facilities (Jennings 1988). In April 1994, several thousand bighead carp, along with a few black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus, escaped into the Osage River, Missouri, when high water flooded hatchery ponds at an aquaculture facility near Lake of the Ozarks (Anonymous 1994). Fish that escaped into the Missouri River have increased and spread, since 1990, into the lower Kansas River of Kansas, and elsewhere (Cross and Collins 1995). The species may have dispersed into Oklahoma waters from fish illegally brought into southeast Kansas by a commercial fish farmer in 1988 (Pigg et al. 1993). According to Pigg et al. (1997), collections in the Grand River of Oklahoma since 1991 indicate a gradual downstream dispersal. The species was illegally stocked along with grass carp in one or a few ponds in California; these were brought into the state by a commercial aquaculturist. The live fish were reportedly transported in a concealed compartment under a load of black bass in the fall of 1989 from a fish grower in Oklahoma or Arkansas (Dill and Cordone 1997).  The species was illegally stocked in Cherry Creek Reservoir, Colorado (P. Walker, personal communication).

Status: This species has been recorded from within, or along the borders of, at least 18 states. There is evidence of reproducing populations in the middle and lower Mississippi and Missouri rivers and the species is apparently firmly established in the states of Illinois and Missouri (Burr et al. 1996; Pflieger 1997). Pflieger (1997) received first evidence of natural reproduction, capture of young bighead carp, in Missouri in 1989. Burr and Warren (1993) reported on the taking of a postlarval fish in southern Illinois in 1992. Subsequently, Burr et al. (1996) noted that bighead carp appeared to be using the lower reaches of the Big Muddy, Cache, and Kaskaskia rivers in Illinois as spawning areas. Tucker et al. (1996) also found young-of-the-year in their 1992 and 1994 collections in the Mississippi River of Illinois and Missouri. Douglas et al. (1996) collected more than 1600 larvae of this genus from a backwater outlet of the Black River in Louisiana in 1994. The first open water record of this species in Arkansas is based on two specimens taken from the Arkansas River in 1986; however, as of the late 1980s there has been no evidence of natural reproduction in that state (Robison and Buchanan 1988). According to Dill and Cordone (1997), there is evidence that the California ponds containing Chinese carp have spilled since 1989, opening the door for bighead carp and grass carp to gain access to the Sacramento River. The West Virginia record involved a single fish taken in 1997 (Hoeft, personal communication). Harvest of bighead carp by commercial fishermen in Missouri has been somewhat erratic. In 1993, the species accounted for 0.6 percent (3,348 pounds) of the reported commercial fish harvest, a decline from the previous year (Robinson 1995).

Impact of Introduction:

Summary of species impacts derived from literature review. Click on an icon to find out more...

Ecological	Economic	Other

The impact of this species in the United States is not adequately known. Because bighead carp are planktivorous and attain a large size, Laird and Page (1996) suggested these carp have the potential to deplete zooplankton populations. As Laird and Page pointed out, a decline in the availability of plankton can lead to reductions in populations of native species that rely on plankton for food, including all larval fishes, some adult fishes, and native mussels. Adult fishes most at risk from such competition in the Mississippi and Missouri rivers are paddlefish Polyodon spathula, bigmouth buffalo Ictiobus cyprinellus, and gizzard shad Dorosoma petenense (Burr et al. 1996; Pflieger 1997; Whitmore 1997; Tucker et al. 1998; Schrank et al. 2003). A study by Sampson et al. (2009) found that Invasive Carp (silver and bighead carps) had dietary overlap with gizzard shad and bigmouth buffalo, but not much of one with paddlefish.

Invasive carps have been shown to affect zooplankton communities (Burke et al. 1986, Lu et al. 2002, Cooke et al 2009; Calkins et al. 2012; Freedman et al. 2012; Sass et al. 2014).

Freedman et al. (2012) showed that resource use and trophic levels of the fish community change when Invasive Carps are present. They also demonstrated an impact on Bigmouth Buffalo and found isotopic values similar to Bluegill, Gizzard Shad, and Emerald Shiner.

Irons et al. (2007) showed significant declines in body condition of Gizzard Shad and Bigmouth Buffalo following invasion by Silver and Bighead carps.  They state that ultimately, declines in body condition may decrease fecundity.

Remarks: Similar to the closely-related silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, the bighead carp is a filter feeder that prefers large river habitats. One of the so-called Chinese carps, it has been used in many parts of the world as a food fish and sometimes introduced in combination with silver carp into sewage lagoons and aquaculture ponds (Jennings 1988). In the United States bighead carp are frequently stocked into catfish culture ponds. According to Stickney (1996), studies have not confirmed that bighead carp actually do improve water quality in culture ponds.

Voucher specimens: Florida (UF 98162).

References: (click for full references)

Anonymous. 1994. Black carp escape to Missouri waters. The LMRCC (Lower Mississippi River Conservation Committee) Newsletter 1(1) (June):11. Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Anonymous. 1995. This little fishy is a what? Brownsville States Graphic, Brownsville, TN, 6 April 1995. p. 1.

Baerwaldt, K., A. Benson, and K. Irons. 2013. State of the carp: Asian carp distribution in North America.  USACE. 8pp.

Bennett, B. 1988. Bighead carp is latest "exotic Asian invader." Lawrence Journal-World, 24 January 1988. p. 8B.

Berg, L. S. 1948-1949. Freshwater fishes of the U.S.S.R. and adjacent countries, 4th edition. Three volumes. Translated from Russian, 1962-1965, for the Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation, by Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem, Israel. Volume 1:504 pp.; volume 2:496 pp.; volume 3:510 pp.

Bradford, M.J., C.P. Tovey, and L. Herborg. 2009. Biological risk assessment for yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in British Columbia. Research Document 2008/073. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/CSAS/Csas/Publications/ResDocs-DocRech/2008/2008_073_e.pdf

Burke, J.S., D.R. Bayne, and H. Rea. 1986. Impact of silver and bighead carps on plankton communities of channel catfish ponds. Aquaculture 55:59-68.

Burr, B. M. 1991. The fishes of Illinois: an overview of a dynamic fauna. Proceedings of our living heritage symposium. Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin 34(4):417-427.

Burr, B. M., D. J. Eisenhour, K. M. Cook, C. A. Taylor, G. L. Seegert, R. W. Sauer, and E. R. Atwood. 1996. Nonnative fishes in Illinois waters: What do the records reveal? Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science 89(1/2):73-91.

Burr, B.M., and M.L. Warren. 1993. Fishes of the Big Muddy drainage with emphasis on historical changes. Pages 186-209 in Hesse, L.W., C.B. Stalnaker, N.G. Benson, and J.R. Zuboy, eds. Proceedings of the Symposium on Restoration Planning for the Rivers of the Mississippi River Ecosystem. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Biological Service. Washington, DC.

Calkins, H.A., S.J. Tripp, and J.E. Garvey. 2012. Linking silver carp habitat selection to flow and phytoplankton in the Mississippi River. Biological Invasions 14:949-958. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10530-011-0128-2.

Carp Task Force. 1989. Report to the Louisiana Legislature, March 1989. Three volumes. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA. 35 pp.

Chang, Y.F. 1966. Culture of freshwater fish in China. In E.O. Gangstad, editor. 1980. Chinese fish culture. Report 1. Technical report A-79. Aquatic plant control research program. Washington, DC. U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station (draft translated by T.S.Y. Koo, 1980).

Chick, J.H. and M.A. Pegg. 2001. Invasive carp in the Mississippi River Basin. Science. 292(5525):2250-2251.

Conover, G., R. Simmonds, and M. Whalen. 2007. Management and control plan for bighead, black, grass, and silver carps in the United States. Asian Carp Working Group, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, Washington, D.C.

Courtenay, W.R., Jr., D.A. Hensley, J.N. Taylor, and J.A. McCann. 1984. Distribution of exotic fishes in the continental United States, p. 41-77, inW.R. Courtenay, Jr., and J.R. Stauffer, Jr., eds. Distribution, Biology and Management of Exotic Fishes. John Hopkins University Press. Baltimore, MD.

Courtenay, W. R., Jr., D. P. Jennings, and J. D. Williams. 1991. Appendix 2: exotic fishes. Pages 97-107 in Robins, C. R., R. M. Bailey, C. E. Bond, J. R. Brooker, E. A. Lachner, R. N. Lea, and W. B. Scott. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada, 5th edition. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 20. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD.

Cross, F. B. and J. T. Collins. 1995. Fishes in Kansas. University of Kansas Natural History Museum.

Crossman, E.J. and B.C. Cudmore. 1999b. Summary of North American fish introductions through the aquarium/horticulture trade.  In “Nonindigenous freshwater organisms” [ed] R. Claudi and J.H. Leach.  Lewis Publishers.  129-133. 

Cudmore, B., N.E. Mandrak, J.M. Dettmers, D.C. Chapman, and C.S. Kolar. 2012. Binational Ecological Risk Assessment of Bigheaded Carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp.) for the Great Lakes Basin. Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Dill, W.A., and A.J. Cordone. 1997. History and status of introduced fishes in California, 1871-1996. Manuscript for Fish Bulletin of the California Department of Fish and Game 178.

Douglas, N. H., S.G. George, J.J. Hoover, K.J. Killgore, and W.T. Slack. 1996. Records of two Asian carps in the lower Mississippi Basin. Page 127 in Abstracts of the 76th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA.

Engle, C.R., and D.W. Brown. 1998. Growth, yield, dressout, and net returns of bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis stocked at three densities in catfish Ictalurus punctatus ponds. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 29(4):414-421.

Etnier, D. A., and W. C. Starnes. 1993. The fishes of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee.

FAO. 1999. Aquaculture production statistics: 1988-1997. FAO Fisheries Circular 815, Revision 11. 203.

Freedman, J.A., S.E. Butler, and D.H. Wahl. 2012.  Impacts of Invasive Asian Carps on Native Food Webs. Final Project Report. Kaskaskia Biological Station, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 18pp.

Freeze, M., and S. Henderson. 1982. Distribution and status of the bighead carp and silver carp in Arkansas. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 2:197-200.

Gollasch, S., I.G. Cowx, and A.D. Nunn. 2008. Environmental impacts of alien species in aquaculture.  EUaquaculture.  IMPASSE Project no. 044142.  148pp.

Goodwin, A.E. 1999. Massive Lernaea cyprinacea infestations damaging the gills of channel catfish polycultured with bighead carp. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 11(4):406-408

Halker, N. (ed). 1998. Nuisance notes from the Western Regional Panel on ANS. Aquatic Nuisance Species Digest. 3(1): 5.

Hayer, C-A., J.J. Breeggemann, R.A. Klumb, B.D.S. Graeb, and K.N. Bertrand. 2014. Population characteristics of bighead and silver carp on the northwestern front of their North American invasion. Aquatic Invasions 9(3):289-303. http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/ai.2014.9.3.05.

Henderson, S. 1976. Observations on the bighead and silver carp and their possible application in pond fish culture. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Little Rock, Arkansas. 18 pages.

Henderson, S. 1978. An evaluation of the filter feeding fishes, silver and bighead carp, for water quality improvement. Pages 121-136 in R.O. Smitherman, W.L. Shelton, and J.H. Grover, editors. Culture of exotic fishes symposium proceedings. Fish Culture Section, American Fisheries Society, Auburn, Alabama.

Henderson, S. 1983. An evaluation of filter feeding fishes for removing excessive nutrients and algae from wastewater. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-600/2-83-019. 5.

Herborg, L.-M., N.E. Mandrak, B.C. Cudmore, and H.J. MacIsaac. 2007. Comparative distribution and invasion risk of snakehead (Channidae) and Asian carp (Cyprinidae) species in North America. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 64:1723-1735.

Hoole, D., D. Bucke, P. Burgess, and I. Wellby. 2001. Diseases of carp and other cyprinid fishes. Blackwell Science, Ames, Iowa.

Howells, R. G. 1992. Annotated list of introduced non-native fishes, mollusks, crustaceans and aquatic plants in Texas waters. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Management Data Series 78, Austin, TX. 19 pp.

Huet, M. 1970. Textbook of fish culture: breeding and cultivation of fish. Fishing News Limited, London.

Humpback Chub Ad Hoc Advisory Committee. 2003. Status and management strategy for humpback chub in Grand Canyon. Prepared at the request of the Adaptive Management Work Group of the Grand Canyon Adaptive Management Program, U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, Arizona. 12.

Illinois Natural History Survey. 2004. Illinois Natural History Survey Fish Collection Database Search Results.

Irons, K. S., G. G. Sass, M. A. McClelland, and J. D. Stafford. 2007. Reduced condition factor of native fish species coincident with invasion of non-native Asian carps in the Illinois, U.S.A. Is this evidence for competition and reduced fitness? Journal of Fish Biology 71(Supplement):258-273.

Jennings, D.P. 1988. Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis): a biological synopsis. Biological Report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 88(2): 1-35.

Kim, B.H., M.-S. Han, and N. Takamura. 2003. Effects of fish introduction on the length of the tail of cryptomonads in mesocosms experiments. Oecologia. 136:73-79.

Kolar, C.S., D.C. Chapman, W.R. Courtenay, C.M. Housel, J.D. Williams, and D.P. Jennings. 2005.  Asian carps of the genus Hypophthalmichys (Pisces, Cyprinidae) - A biological synopsis and environmental risk assessment. Report to US Fish and Wildlife Service per Interagency Agreement 94400-3-0128.  http://www.fws.gov/contaminants/OtherDocuments/ACBSRAFinalReport2005.pdf

Kolar, C.S., D.C. Chapman, W.R. Courtenay, C.M. Housel, J.D. Williams, and D.P. Jennings. 2007. Bigheaded carps: a biological synopsis and environmental risk assessment. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 33, Bethesda, Maryland.

Kocovsky, P.M., D.C. Chapman, and J.E. McKenna. 2012. Thermal and hydrologic suitability of Lake Erie and its major tributaries for spawning of Asian carps. Journal of Great Lakes Research 38(1)159-166.

Laird, C. A., and L. M. Page. 1996. Non-native fishes inhabiting the streams and lakes of Illinois. Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin 35(1):1-51.

Li, S., and F. Fang. 1990. On the geographical distribution of the four kinds of pond-cultured carps in China. Acta Zoologica Sinica 36(3):244-250.

Li, Z-Y., and Y. Xie (editors). 2002. Invasive Alien Species in China. China Forestry Publishing House. 211.

Lieberman, D.M. 1996. Use of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) for algae control in a small pond: changes in water quality. Journal of Freshwater Ecology. 11:391–397.

Lu, M., P. Xie, H. Tang, Z. Shao, and L. Xie. 2002. Experimental study of trophic cascade effect of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) in a subtropical lake, Lake Donghu: on plankton community and underlying mechanisms of changes of crustacean community. Hydrobiologia 487(1):19-31.

Maher, R.  2005.  2003 Commercial Catch Report.  Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Commercial Fishing Program.  Brighton, Illinois.

Mettee, M. F., P. E. O'Neil, and J. M. Pierson. 1996. Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin. Oxmoor House, Inc. Birmingham, AL. 820 pp.

Middlemas, K. 1994. Local angler hooks a peculiarity. The News Herald, Panama City, FL, 25 September 1994.

Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.  2004.  Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Nonindigenous Fish Records.

Nebraska Game and Parks. 2000. Formerly available at http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/fish/fishes.html

Opuszynski, K. 1980. The role of fishery management in counteracting eutrophication processes. Developments in Hydrobiology 2:263-269.

Opuszynski, K. 1981. Comparison of the usefulness of the silver carp and the bighead carp as additional fish in carp ponds. Aquaculture. 25: 223–233.

Pflieger, W. L. 1997. The fishes of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, MO. 372 pp.

Pigg, J., J. Smith, and M. Ambler. 1997. Additional records of bighead carp, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, in Oklahoma waters. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 77:123.

Pigg, J., J. Stahl, M. Ambler, and J. Smith. 1993. Two potential sources of exotic fish in Oklahoma. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 73:67.

Radke, R.J., and U. Kahl. 2002. Effects of a filter-feeding fish [silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Val.)] on phyto- and zooplankton in a mesotrophic reservoir: results from an enclosure experiment. Freshwater Biology. 47:2337-2344.

Rasmussen, J.L. 1998. Aquatic nuisance species of the Mississippi River basin. 60th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Aquatic Nuisance Species Symposium, Dec. 7, 1998, Cincinnati, OH.

Robins, C. R., R. M. Bailey, C. E. Bond, J. R. Brooker, E. A. Lachner, R. N. Lea, and W. B. Scott. 1991. World fishes important to North Americans exclusive of species from the continental waters of the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 21. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD. 243 pp.

Robison, H. W., and T. M. Buchanan. 1988. Fishes of Arkansas. University of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville, AR.

Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991b. World fishes important to North Americans exclusive of species from continental waters of the Unites States. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 21. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD. 243pp.

Robinson, J. W. 1995. Missouri commercial fish harvest 1993. Final report, Missouri Department of Conservation, Columbia, MO.

Ross, S. 2001. The Inland Fishes of Mississippi. University Press of Mississippi. 624 pp.

Sampson, S.J., J.H. Chick, and M.A. Pegg. 2009. Diet overlap among two Asian carp and three native fishes in backwater lakes on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. Biological Invasions. 11:483-496

Sass, G.G., C. Hinz, A.C. Erickson, N.N. McClelland, M.A. McClelland, and J.M. Epifanio. 2014. Invasive bighead and silver carp effects on zooplankton communities in the Illinois River, Illinois, USA. Journal of Great Lakes Research 40:911-921. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0380133014001798

Schofield, P.J., J.D. Williams, L.G. Nico, P. Fuller, and M.R. Thomas. 2005. Foreign nonindigenous carps and minnows (Cyprinidae) in the United States – A guide to their identification, distribution, and biology. U. S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5041. Available at https://archive.usgs.gov/archive/sites/fl.biology.usgs.gov/Carp_ID/index.html

Schrank, S.J., and C.S. Guy. 2002. Age, growth, and gonadal characteristics of adult bighead carp, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, in the lower Missouri River. Environmental Biology of Fishes 64:443-450.

Schrank, S.J., C.S. Guy, and J.F. Fairchild. 2003. Competitive interactions between age-0 bighead carp and paddlefish.  Trans Am. Fish. Soc. 132: 1222-1228.

Severinghause, L.L., and L. Chi. 1999. Prayer animal release in Taiwan. Biological Conservation 89:301-304.

Shafland, P.L. 1996. Exotic fishes of Florida – 1994. Reviews in Fisheries Science 4(2):101-122.

Shiu, H., and L. Stokes. 2008. Buddhist animal release practices: historic, environmental, public health and economic concerns. Contemporary Buddhism 9(2):181-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14639940802556529

Simms, R. 2005. Chattanooga fireman catches probably world record fish. http://www.chattanoogan.com/2005/6/6/67927/Chattanooga-Fireman-Catches-Probable.aspx

Soin, S.G. and A.I. Sukhanova. 1972. Comparative morphological analysis of the development of the grass carp, the black carp, the silver carp and the bighead (Cyprinidae). Journal of Ichthyology 12:61-71.

Stickney, R.R. 1996. Aquaculture in the United States: a historical survey. John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY.

Stone, N., C. Engle, D. Heikes, and D. Freeman. 2000. Bighead carp. Southern Regional Aquaculture Center (SRAC), Stoneville, Mississippi, September 2000. Southern Regional Aquaculture Center Publication 438.

Texas Parks and Wildlife. 1999. Giant Exotic Carp Landed at Fort Phantom Hill (online) at URL:http://www.tpwd/state/tx/us/news/news/990322d.htm. Texas Parks and Wildlife Newsstand. Last accessed 11/19/1999.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 2001. Fish Records: Water Body - All Tackle. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. April 24, 2001.

Tucker, J. K., F. A. Cronin, R. A. Hrabik, M. D. Petersen, and D. P. Herzo. 1996. The bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) in the Mississippi River. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 11(2):241-243.

Tucker, John K.,  Frederick A. Cronin, Jeffrey Stone, and Timothy B. Mihuc.  1998.  The Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmicthys nobilis) in Reach 26 of the Mississippi River.  INHS Reports November-December 1998.  http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/chf/pub/surveyreports/nov-dec98/bighead.html.

US Army Corps of Engineers. 2012.  Environmental DNA Calibration Study: Interim Technical Review Report.  27pp.

US Army Corps of Engineers.  2014.  Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS). 

USFWS. 2005. National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species. http://www.nwrinvasives.com/index.asp http://www.fws.gov/invasives/nwrs.html

Verigin, B.V., D.N. Shakha, and B.G. Kamilov. 1990. Correlation among reproductive indicators of the silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, and the bighead, Aristichthys nobilis. Journal of Ichthyology 3(8):80-92.

Whitmore, S. 1997. Aquatic nuisance species in Region 6 of the Fish and Wildlife Service. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Plains Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance Office, Pierre, SD.

Willink 2010

Xie, P., and Y. Chen. 2001. Invasive carp in China’s Plateau lakes. Science 224:999-1000.

Other Resources:
The Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmicthys nobilis) in Reach 26 of the Mississippi River (Illinois Natural History Survey)

Asian Carp Regionial Coordinating Committee

Proceedings of the Asian Carp Working Group Meeting, May 24, 2004, Columbia, Missouri

Facts About Bighead and Silver Carp (USGS)

Risk Assessment for Asian Carps in Canada (CSAS)

PA Sea Grant Fact Sheet

Global Invasive Species Database Factsheet

Michigan Asian Carp Management Plan

US Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Risk Screening Summary for Hypophthalmichthys nobilis

Author: Nico, L., P. Fuller, E. Baker, C. Narlock, G. Nunez, R. Sturtevant, P. Alsip and J. Redinger

Peer Review Date: 1/22/2015

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.