Prussian carp

In 2020, scientists demonstrated that a small proportion of fertilized Prussian carp eggs ingested by waterfowl survive passing through the digestive tract and hatch after being retrieved from the feces.

These data indicate that despite the low proportion of eggs surviving the digestive tract of birds, endozoochory might provide a potentially overlooked dispersal mechanism of Prussian carps.

If proven under natural circumstances, endozoochorous dispersal of invasive fish could be a strong conservation concern for freshwater biodiversity.

Prussian carp are capable of gynogenesis, meaning sperm is required to fertilize their eggs, but the male gamete does not contribute any DNA to the embryo.

The species is silvery, sometimes with a faint golden tinge, while the crucian carp has a burnished gold appearance.

An orange colored wild-caught Prussian carp with goldfish -like coloration.
Carassius gibelio illustration
Video of Prussian carp in Kõrvemaa, Estonia (October 2022)