Alerts

Please be advised that our bird aviaries are open!  

Your Toronto Zoo is committed to the health and safety of the animals in our care. We take proactive steps to protect our birds from Avian Influenza which has been confirmed in a wild bird in southern Ontario, and some birds may still be off display.

Please note Splash Island is still closed and will not open until July due to unforeseen delays in construction. Please watch for updates on https://www.torontozoo.com/tz/splash or on our social media pages. Thank you!

Please note the following animals are currently not on display due to various reasons including Avian Bird Flu, and Covid-19 sensitivity:

  • Flamingo, peacock, owl, bald eagle, and aviaries
  • Some Kids Zoo Animals
  • Cougar
  • Moose
  • Kangaroo walk through (kangaroos are still visible)
  • Axolotl

We apologize for the inconvenience!
Fish

Location at the Zoo:
Indo-Malaya
Region: Southeast Asia


Bighead Carp

True to its name, the bighead carp has a large head and a large, toothless mouth. Unlike black and grass carp, bighead carp eyes are located very low on the head, below the central axis of the body. Grey with dark, irregular blotches, bighead carp can live over 16 years, reach 1.5 m in length and weigh up to 40 kg.

Conservation Status: IUCN




Distribution:

An invasive species in North America, black carp is native to Eastern China and far eastern Russia

Habitat:

Bighead carp are active in cold water and occur in large rivers and lakes with slow moving water. Easily adaptable to temperate freshwater environments.

Diet:

Zooplankton, detritus and small invertebrates

Reproduction:

Bighead carp mature at approximately 2-3 years of age and spawn in a variety of habitats including slow moving rivers and lakes.

Adaptation:

A very hardy species and tolerant to temperatures from 4-26oC, bighead carp can adapt to many temperate freshwater environments. Bighead carp also lack a true stomach causing them to eat constantly. Long, comb-like gill rakers allow the bighead carp to strain and consume planktonic organisms from the water.

Threats to Survival:

Threats in the native range of the bighead carp include overfishing and river modifications such as dams, flood control devices and land reclamation for agriculture.