Latin Etymology: Gasterosteus ("stomach bone") aculeatus ("barbed")
Adult Three-Spined Stickleback (G. a. aculeatus) at Crossness, London - May 2019
Featured Subspecies: Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus
Weight: ? / Length: 3-8cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern
The Three-spined Stickleback is a small freshwater fish found in much of higher latitude Europe and North America. They are apparently very tolerant of salinity changes compared to fish, breeding in fresh or brackish water, but also capable of living at the sea. It also has fairly distinct breeding behaviour, with the colourful male building a nest-tunnel for which the female to lay eggs, and then defending them once the female has laid them, plus fanning them with his fins to keep them oxygenated.
Related Species:
Order: Gasterosteiformes
Family: Gasterosteidae
Genus: Gasterosteus
SUBSPECIES: G. a. aculeatus, G. a. williamsoni, G. a. santaeannae
- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident
- Seen at Crossness in May 2019.
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