Goldfish

Carassius auratus · The goldfish is a small freshwater fish native to China that is now one of the most popular aquarium pets worldwide.

Also called Carassin, Gold carp.

Goldfish
Photo: Flocci Nivis, CC BY 4.0
Goldfish
Photo: Yatokin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Goldfish
Photo: Vinnie Cartabiano, CC BY 2.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderCypriniformes
FamilyCyprinidae
GenusCarassius
SpeciesCarassius auratus

Where it lives

Native to fresh waters of East Asia; now in ponds and waterways worldwide.

Fun facts

  • Goldfish have four kinds of cone cells, including one for ultraviolet light, so they see colors that humans cannot.
  • Goldfish can tell individual people apart and may swim to the front of the glass, begging for food, when their owner approaches.
  • A goldfish's memory lasts at least three months, and goldfish can learn to react to colored light signals or even perform tricks.
  • If goldfish are kept in the dark for a while, they gradually fade to almost gray, much like skin tanning in the sun but in reverse.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).