The different varieties of Japanese koi

Japanese koi is actually the common carp but since Japan has appropriated it at such heights as to even produce newer varieties, so, koi is also called the Japanese koi. The classification of this koi can be done as follows.

Classification of the koi

The Japanese variety of the koi has the conservation status of being a domesticated fish. Belonging to the kingdom Animalia like all other animals it has been segregated into the phylum Chordata due to the presence of the fish bone in it. Its class, order and family are Actinopterygii, Cypriniformes and Cyprinidae respectively. It however is of the genus Cyprinus and has the species carpio. Thus the scientific name of the Japanese koi is Cyprinus carpio. However, over the years many varieties of koi have been developed in Japan. Here we will engage into a brief discussion about all of those varieties and their names.

The Japanese koi comes in a variety of colors and shapes. Major color patterns include cream, white, red, black, yellow and blue. Other than these colors singly there is also a mix of colors available. For example, you can have a koi fish with the patterning of all three colors red, black and white. Red and yellow is another very common color pattern that you can find in these carps. The amazing thing is that variations can be limitless but due to the sake of configuration we have the following categories.

The Kohaku is the most common variety of Japanese koi and has a completely white skin with red spots on top. This is the first of all ornamental variety of the fish to be developed.

The Taisho Sanshoku is another common one where the white body, spotted with red color also has certain distinct black markings on it.

Then there is the Showa Sansoku which comes in a deep black color but with the startling effect of red and white markings on its body.

The Tancho is one variety where the fish has one single bib spot of red on its head. Any koi with this feature irrespective of body color can be called a Tancho.

Asagi and Utsurimono are other Japanese koi varieties where the fish has light blue and red color and black color with red, yellow and white markings respectively. In case of the Asagi the light blue color is the color of the top of the fish while the bright red color is that of its underbelly, a striking combination at that.

The other various varieties of koi found in Japan include the Bekko, the Goshiki, the Shusui, the Kinginirin, the Kawarimono and the Ogon. Other popular varieties also include Kumonryu, Doitsu-goi, Ochiba, Koroma and the fantastically colored Hikari Moyomono. The ghost koi and the butterfly koi are also other varieties of Japanese koi that are found.