Goldfish
Carassius auratus
- Class
- Ray-finned fish
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 4,977
- Most observed in
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The goldfish (Carassius auratus) is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of the order Cypriniformes. It is commonly kept as a pet in indoor aquariums, and is one of the most popular aquarium fish. Goldfish released into the wild have become an invasive pest in parts of North America and Australia. Native to China, the goldfish is a relatively small member of the genus Carassius (which also includes the Prussian carp and the crucian carp). It was first selectively bred for color in imperial China more than 1,000 years ago, where several distinct breeds were developed. Goldfish breeds vary greatly in size, body shape, fin configuration, and coloration. Various combinations of white, yellow, orange, red, brown, and black are known.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Goldfish”.