Home · Cyprinidae · Topmouth culter
Topmouth culter (Culter alburnus) — Cyprinidae

Topmouth culter

Culter alburnus
Family: Cyprinidae

The Topmouth culter (Culter alburnus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 93 cm.

Length
92.8 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The topmouth culter is a slender predatory carp (Xenocyprididae) from fresh water of East Asia, including China. The species grows to about 90 cm and has an elongate, laterally compressed, bright silvery body with a strongly upturned mouth. As an open-water predator it hunts small fish and large invertebrates in lakes and slow rivers. It is an important food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Topmouth culter?

The Topmouth culter has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Topmouth culter live?

The Topmouth culter lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Topmouth culter get?

The Topmouth culter grows to a maximum of about 93 cm. On average the species is around 28 cm.

Is the Topmouth culter dangerous to humans?

No, the Topmouth culter is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Topmond-roofkarper sourced
English name
Topmouth culter sourced
Scientific name
Culter alburnus
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Lookup verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
92.8 verified
Average length (cm)
28.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Culter

More from the family Cyprinidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →