Przewalskii's naked carp
Endemic cyprinid of China's Qinghai Lake basin
Przewalskii's naked carp is a slow-growing fish found only in the Qinghai Lake basin in China. It migrates from brackish lake waters to freshwater rivers to spawn and faces threats from overfishing and habitat loss.
- Endemic to Qinghai Lake basin in China
- Migrates 40–50 km to freshwater to spawn
- Stocks dropped from 320,000 to 3,000 tons
- Takes 7–10 years to reach reproductive size
- Metabolism drops 40% in brackish water
What it is
This cyprinid fish has a long, flat body with almost no scales, earning it the name naked carp. Specialized scales exist only near the anus and shoulder girdle. Adults reach up to 48 cm in length and weigh between 300 and 500 grams when ready to breed. It is the dominant fish species in its native basin, sharing waters with only four types of loach.
Where it lives
The species lives exclusively in the Qinghai Lake basin on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau in China. This large endorheic lake retains water without outflowing to other bodies. The fish inhabits both the brackish lake and connected freshwater tributaries. It occupies benthopelagic zones, staying between the bottom and midwater areas in slow currents.
How it lives
These carp feed primarily on benthic zooplankton found about two metres below the surface. They also consume other aquatic invertebrates. The main population migrates annually, while a separate group lives entirely within the Ganzi River. This isolated river population differs in body shape and gill raker count from the lake dwellers.
Breeding and life cycle
From April to July, adults swim 40 to 50 kilometres upstream into freshwater rivers to spawn. They prefer sandy gravel banks with slow currents and pebble substrates for nesting. After breeding, they return to the saline lake, where their metabolism and oxygen use drop significantly. Young fish overwinter in streams before returning to the lake.
Fish and people
It is the only commercial fish in Qinghai Lake, but stocks fell sharply from 320,000 tons to 3,000 tons by the early 2000s. Commercial fishing has been suspended four times since 1989. Scientists study its ability to adapt between salt and fresh water, which may help understand climate change adaptation in other species.
Status and threats
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as Near Threatened, while China classifies it as Endangered. Threats include overfishing, damming, irrigation, and rising salinity due to falling water levels. Fishways built on several rivers have had limited success because the carp cannot swim fast enough to climb them.
Questions people ask about Przewalskii's naked carp
Why is it called a naked carp?
It has almost no scales on its body, except for specialized ones near the anus and shoulder girdle. This lack of typical scaling gives the fish its common name.
Where does Przewalskii's naked carp live?
It is found only in the Qinghai Lake basin in China. The fish lives in the brackish lake water and migrates to freshwater tributaries for spawning.
Is this fish endangered?
Yes. It is listed as Near Threatened globally and Endangered in China. Overfishing and habitat loss from dams and irrigation have severely reduced its population.
Good reading and sources
- Schizopygopsis przewalskii on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Schizopygopsis przewalskii", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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