The silver carp has many adaptations that make it so well suited for its current environment and has allowed it to explode in U.S waters with relatively no problem at all. 

First they grow very quickly reaching 3-5 pounds in just one year so they quickly outgrow any of their predators.  To give a little bit better idea to what 3-5 pounds in a fish, a typical bluegill which is a popular panfish in the Midwest region of the United States at 11 inches, on average weighs about 1 pound and it takes about 15 years for it to accomplish this, so for a fish to grow 3-5

pounds in one year is pretty impressive.  Not only

do these fish grow quickly, but they also mature to

a reproductive age in short amount of time and when they do reach reproductive age they can lay anywhere from 1-5 million eggs per year.  You can see these details in more of an extensive review in the R rated zone. 

    As shown in the main picture above the silver carp have their gill rakers fused into a sponge-like filter that make it perfect for them to be able to feed on their main source of food phytoplankton.  This can be found in greater detail on the Grubbin page.  The silver carp also has a large tolerance range, they are well adapted to be able to survive anywhere from 23˚ to about 60˚ latitude as shown in the picture above. Another amazing feature of these leaping wonders is their ability to withstand low oxygen concentrations.  A study was done testing how well fingerlings were to do in a low oxygenated environment, within a relatively short period a jaw was formed designed especially to take up more oxygen in the low oxygenated environment.  After oxygen was added back into the area the jaw was gone within a 24-hour period.  Pretty amazing huh? No wonder these can do so well wherever they go!