Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Dorsal spines (total): 3 - 4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 20; Anal spines: 2 - 3; Anal soft rays: 4 - 7; Vertebrae: 30

Body stout, thick-set, caudal peduncle thick and short . Head without scales , broadly triangular , interorbital space broad, snout longer than eye diameter, maxillary reaching posterior nostril or not quite to eye , barbels lacking on upper jaw . Lateral line complete. Dorsal and anal fins with serrate bony spines, pelvic fins short, broad and thoracic. Nuptial tubercles of male fine, on opercle, sometimes on back and a few on pectoral fins. Hybridize readily with carp, hybrids intermediate in most characteristics . Caudal fin with 17-19 rays . Last simple anal ray osseous and serrated posteriorly; no barbels . Pigmentation: Wild-caught specimens, olive brown , slate olive, olive green, with a bronze sheen , silvery, grayish yellowish, gray-silver , through gold (often with black blotches) to creamy white ; yellowish white or white below. Cultured forms vary through scarlet, red-pink, silver, brown, white, black and combinations of these colors .