Gasterosteidae
The Gasterosteidae is a family of ray-finned fishes known commonly as sticklebacks. They are small fish with bony plates along their bodies and spines on their backs. Sticklebacks are found in coastal marine and freshwater environments throughout the Northern Hemisphere and the southern tip of South America.
Common Names
Sticklebacks are called by many names, including:
- Three-spined stickleback
- Ninespine stickleback
- Tenspine stickleback
- Fourspine stickleback
- Crested stickleback
- Broad-nosed stickleback
- Seasnail
- Prickleback
- Bully
Characteristics
Sticklebacks are relatively small fish, typically ranging in size from 3 to 15 centimeters (1.2 to 6 inches) in length. They are characterized by their elongated bodies, bony plates along their flanks, and spines on their backs. The number of spines varies depending on the species, ranging from three to ten. Sticklebacks also have a distinctive pelvic fin that can be either absent, reduced to a single spine, or present as two spines. Their coloration can vary depending on the species and their environment, ranging from silver to brown to green.
Environments
Sticklebacks are found in a variety of habitats, including:
- Coastal marine waters
- Estuaries
- Freshwater lakes and streams
- Marshes
- Ponds
- Ditches
They are often found in shallow waters with abundant vegetation, as they use these areas for foraging, nesting, and protection from predators.
References
Wikipedia - Gasterosteidae
FishBase - Gasterosteidae
NCBI Taxonomy - Gasterosteidae