How to differentiate between grass carp, carp and crucian carp

Grass carp, carp and crucian carp are common freshwater fish, and they have some differences in appearance that can be used to distinguish them.

1. Grass carp (swordfish): The body of grass carp is flat and elongated, with an oval shape. Its head is small and its eyes are relatively large. The back of the body is gray-green, the sides and abdomen are silvery white, and there are some small scales on the body. The tail of grass carp is straight and has a black horizontal stripe.

2. Carp: The body of carp is also flat and long, but relatively thick. It has a large head and relatively small eyes. The back of the carp's body is gray or green, and the sides and belly are silvery white. Carp's tail is forked and usually has no black horizontal stripes.

3. Crucian carp: The side of the body of crucian carp is flat and thick, almost cylindrical. Its head is small and its eyes are relatively large. The back of crucian carp is grayish-brown or brown, the sides are lighter, and the belly is white. The tail of crucian carp is also forked, but usually does not have black horizontal stripes.

In addition to appearance characteristics, these fish also differ in their mouth and tooth structure, but this usually requires expert knowledge or actual observation to identify.

It should be noted that the appearance of individual fish may change depending on the age, environment, feeding status and growth conditions of the fish. Therefore, when distinguishing fish, it is best to combine multiple characteristics to increase accuracy. If you still have questions, it is recommended to consult a professional with relevant fish identification experience.

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