Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) is a freshwater fish of the mottled bighead carp family. It differs from the white bighead carp by dark spots on the belly, the keel on the belly comes from the base of the pelvic fins. It inhabits Central and Southern China, and sporadically in the Amur River. Acclimatized to water bodies of Central Asia and southern areas of European Russia. Body length up to 80 cm, weight up to 12 kg. Eggs are pelagic. It feeds on phyto- and zooplankton. Target fishery. The variegated bighead carp is successfully bred in ponds and released for feeding in reservoirs and lakes.

Inhabits rivers of the Far East flowing into the Pacific Ocean. In the early 1960s, the variegated bighead carp together with juveniles of white bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and white amur (Ctenopharyngodon idella) were purposefully introduced into water bodies of Uzbekistan. Initially, they were introduced into the ponds of "Kalgan-Charchik" farm. Due to accidental escapees during fish trapping in ponds and emergency water discharges from the farm, they got to Syrdarya, where they successfully reproduce.