[3] The Japanese white crucian carp was formerly considered a subspecies of wild goldfish, and was classified as C. auratus cuvieri.

[4] Genetic studies using mitochondrial DNA indicate that this species diverged from the ancestral form approximately one million years ago, during the early Pleistocene.

[4] The original wild species unique to Lake Biwa is called gengorō-buna (ゲンゴロウブナ (源五郎鮒)).

[7] Historically, the Japanese white crucian carp was endemic to Lake Biwa,[6] as well as the connected Yodo River system,[8] in Japan.

[3] An omnivorous species, Japanese white crucian carp feed on a variety foods, including algae, phytoplankton, macrophytes, and invertebrates, such as insects and crustaceans.

[7] Spawning occurs from April to June,[6] and takes place in areas of aquatic vegetation, including reed beds.

[13][14] This species has been identified as an intermediate host of Clinostomum complanatum, a parasitic fluke capable of infecting humans.