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Beche De Mer
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European carp have a small mouth with no teeth and one pair of barbels at each corner of the mouth.  The body scales are large and there are 33-40 lateral line scales.   The dorsal fin is long with 3 or 4 spines and 15 to 24 rays.  There is a serrated spine on the anal fin.  Usually carp are olive green to golden along the back with paler sides and a brassy or silvery yellow belly.  Colour variations are quite common in wild populations.

European carp are an introduced species in Australia, and are now distributed throughout southern Australia.

They prefer warm waters in lakes and slow flowing rivers.  They usually live over soft, muddy river beds, in areas with soft submerged vegetation.  European carp are tolerant of a variety of environmental conditions, including high salinities and low oxygen concentrations.  They gulp air at the surface of oxygen depleted waters.

European carp have been declared noxious fish in most Australian States.   Management is therefore directed towards eradication and restricting the spread of populations. Total eradication is impossible, but in an attempt to reduce the species spread there are prohibitions on its use as live bait, its return to the water and its transfer between states.

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