# Silver carp (*Hypophthalmichthys molitrix*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/silver-carp  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) is a bony fish in the family Cyprinidae, order Cypriniformes. It belongs to the subfamily Xenocypridinae and the genus Hypophthalmichthys, within the class Teleostei. The species name was authored by (Valenciennes, 1844), and other English names include Flyer, Jumper, Silver fin, Flying carp and Chinese schemer. On the IUCN Red List, the silver carp is assessed globally as Near Threatened (NT), which is not an IUCN threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | up to 50 kg |
| Length | 60 cm – 1.4 m |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | freshwater |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Near Threatened (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Teleostei
- order: Cypriniformes
- family: Cyprinidae
- genus: Hypophthalmichthys
- species: *Hypophthalmichthys molitrix* (Valenciennes, 1844)

Synonyms: *Abramocephalus microlepis*, *Aristichthys molitrix*, *Cephalus mantschuricus*, *Hypophthalmichthys basilewskii*, *Hypophthalmichthys dabryi*, *Hypophthalmichthys dabryi*, *Hypophthalmichthys dybowskii*, *Hypophthalmichthys mantschuricus*, *Hypophthalmichthys microlepis*, *Hypopthalmichthys molitrix*, *Hypothalmichthys molitrix*, *Hypothamicthys molitrix*, *Leuciscus hypophthalmus*, *Leuciscus molitrix*, *Onychodon mantschuricus*, *Pseudolaubuca clupeoides*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the silver carp?

The silver carp is a bony fish in the family Cyprinidae and the order Cypriniformes.

### What is the scientific name of the silver carp?

The scientific name of the silver carp is Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, in the genus Hypophthalmichthys.

### Who named the silver carp and when?

The scientific name authority is written as (Valenciennes, 1844).

### Is the silver carp endangered?

No. The silver carp is listed as Near Threatened (NT) in a global IUCN assessment, which is not an IUCN threatened category.

### What other names does the silver carp have?

Other English names for the silver carp are Flyer, Jumper, Silver fin, Flying carp and Chinese schemer.

### Which subfamily does the silver carp belong to?

The silver carp belongs to the subfamily Xenocypridinae of the family Cyprinidae.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/silver-carp