Dianchi Carp
CR

Dianchi Carp

Cyprinus micristius

Unknown

Photo: Photo: (c) CAFS, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Overview

Cyprinus micristius, the Dianchi carp, is a critically endangered species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is found only in Lake Dianchi and its tributaries in Yunnan, China. The nominate subspecies from the lake itself has not been confirmed since the 1960s.

Cyprinus micristius faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat degradation from agricultural runoff and water extraction in its native river systems. Dam construction has fragmented remaining populations and altered natural flow regimes essential for spawning. Introduced species compete for resources and may hybridize with native populations, further threatening genetic integrity.

Threat summary

Habitat

This freshwater cyprinid inhabits slow-flowing rivers and associated wetlands in temperate regions. It prefers areas with soft substrates and moderate vegetation cover for feeding and spawning.

FRESHWATER· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Dianchi Carp classified as Critically Endangered?
Dianchi Carp is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Cyprinus micristius faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat degradation from agricultural runoff and water extraction in its native river systems. Dam construction has fragmented remaining populations and altered natural flow regimes essential for spawning. Introduced species compete for resources and may hybridize with native populations, further threatening genetic integrity.
Where does Dianchi Carp live?
Dianchi Carp occurs in China. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Dianchi Carp?
The main threats to Dianchi Carp are 5.4, 8.1, 9.3.4, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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