Hypophthalmichthys

Hypophthalmichthys
Bighead carp
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Xenocyprinae
Genus: Hypophthalmichthys
Bleeker, 1860
Type species
Leuciscus molitrix
Valenciennes, 1844
Species

see text

Synonyms

Hypophthalmichthys is a genus of large cyprinid fish consisting of three species. The name comes from Greek ὑπό (hypó 'below'), ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmós 'eye'), and ἰχθῦς (ichthŷs 'fish'), thus 'fish with eyes below', referring to the fact that the fish has its eyes below the mouth line. Members of this genus are native to fresh water in East Asia, ranging from Siberia to Vietnam, but have been widely introduced outside their native range, where often considered invasive. Big head (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carps (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) have been reaching the Illinois River system outside of Lake Michigan but have grown concerns of them likely being established in the Great Lakes.[1] The reason is that stakeholders, such as fisheries, recreationists, and the fishing industry can be impacted economically and potentially decrease biodiversity or even extinction of these or other species. Environmental DNA has been used to monitor these species and look for positive eDNA detections and the presence of live organisms.[2] The genus is also known as Bighead carp, though that term is also used for individual species, particularly Hypophthalmichthys nobilis. The Russian language has a special word for the genus - tolstolób(ik) (literally thickforehead).

  1. ^ Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.; Chapman, Duane C.; Paukert, Craig (8 December 2014). "Quantification of eDNA shedding rates from invasive bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix". Biological Conservation. 183: 77–84. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2014.11.020. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  2. ^ Stepien, Carol A.; Snyder, Matthew R.; Elz, Anna E. (27 March 2019). "Invasion genetics of the silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix across North America: Differentiation of fronts, introgression, and eDNA metabarcode detection". PLOS ONE. 14 (3): e0203012. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1403012S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0203012. PMC 6436794. PMID 30917127.