Relation To Goldfish
Many sources state that the goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus) is a cultivated breed of crucian carp taken from the wild. Since "crucian carp" is the name of the genus this is not strictly wrong, but certainly ambiguous and misleading. Genetic research has shown that the goldfish actually derives from the Prussian carp Carassius gibelio.
Aside from confusion in nomenclature, there is the practical issue of distinguishing true crassian carp from goldfish hybrids in, e.g., competitive coarse fishing. The following is based on a similar table of guidelines constructed by the Farnham Angling Society:
| Crucian carp (C. crassius) | Goldfish (C. gibelio) |
|---|---|
| a) snout well rounded | a) more pointed snout |
| b) Always golden bronze | b) often has a grey/greenish colour |
| c) 33 + scales along lateral line (33; 31-36 scales) | c) 31 or less scales on lateral line (27-31) |
| d) Juveniles have a black spot at the base of the tail, which disappear with age. ("transient dark marking on the caudal peduncle") | d) This tail spot is never present. |
| e) The leading ray of the dorsal fin is weak | e) The leading ray of the dorsal fin is strong |
| f) The dorsal fin is higher for longer and convex in shape and has 15 or less branched rays | f) The dorsal fin is concave in shape and has 15 or more branched rays |
| g) caudal fin bluntly lobed | g) caudal fin deeply forked and sharp) |
Read more about this topic: Crucian Carp
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