The number,shape and distribution of intermuscular bones were observed in silver carp(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix),bighead carp(Aristichthys nobilis),blunt snout bream(Megalobrama amblycephala) and crucian carp(Carassius auratus gibelio).The results showed that the number of intermuscular bones in silver carp was between 117 and 124,in bighead carp was between 116 and 133,in blunt snout bream was between 114 and 129,in crucian carp was between79 and 87.The intermuscular bone number was not absolutely equal in both body sides although the number was quite similar.The bone number varied in different parts of fish body.There were more bones in the front dorsal part while bone number was almost equal in rear dorsal part and rear abdominal part.There were more than 10 types of bone shape in silver carp,bighead carp,blunt snout bream and crucian carp.A tiny l-type bone was observed in all of experimental fish,and the length difference of this bone was very small in the fish of different sizes.