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39 Common Carp Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus 1758 Figure 24. Common Carp, SIUC 42681,120 millimeter SL, from Lake County, Illinois. Description The Common Carp (fig. 24) is a large species, reaching lengths of over 1 m (Berg, 1964). The maxi- mum reported weight is 37.3 kg (IGFA, 2001). The body is wide, elongated, and torpedo-shaped. The scales are large, and number 32-40 along the lateral line. The body is slightly arched anterior to the dorsal fin. The long dorsal fin has ii-iv (15-23) rays that include a strong, serrated spine-like ray followed by 15 or more branched rays. The anal fin has ii-iv (4-6) rays. The caudal fin is moderately forked. The mouth is subterminal with two barbels on each side. The eyes are set high on the head. The pharyngeal teeth are molariform and those in the main row are heavy with flattened grinding surfaces. The pharyngeal tooth formula is 1, I ,3-3, 1,1 (in three rows; fig. 25). Total gill rakers on the first arch number 18-36. The Common Carp is generally brassy to yellowish, with lower fins often yellow-orange; however, ornamental forms exhibit a wide range of bright colors (see section on variation, below). Meristics are given in appendix B. Figure 25. Pharyngeal teeth (1,1,3-3,1,1) of Common Carp, SIUC 42681, 120 millimeter SL, from Lake County, Illinois. (Also see fig. 3, p. 8.) Shortly before and during spawning, mature males (and some females) develop breeding tubercles (appear- ing as small granules). In males, the tubercles appear primarily on the opercle, pre-opercle, and under the eyes, although they may also be present elsewhere on