Family Gasterosteidae - Sticklebacks and tubesnouts

  Order
:
  Class
:
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
  No. of Genera in Ref
:
5
  No. of Species in Ref
:
7
  Environment
:
Fresh : Yes | Brackish : Yes | Marine : Yes
  Aquarium
:
some
  First Fossil Record
:
upper   Tertiary     Miocene
Ref..   Berg, L.S. 1958
  Remark
:
Distribution: Northern Hemisphere. Body may be elongate, naked or with bony scutes along the sides. Three to sixteen well-developed isolated dorsal spines preceed a normal dorsal fin having 6-14 rays; caudal fin rays 12-13; a single spine and 1-2 soft rays in the pelvic fin; three branchiostegal rays; circumorbital ring incomplete posteriorly; epineurals present; vertebrae 28-42. About 18 cm maximum length reached in Spinachia spinachia. Sticklebacks have been widely used in scientific studies. Several subspecies are recognized by authors and the family is in need of revision.
  Etymology
:
Greek, gaster = stomach + Greek, osteon = bone ( Ref. 45335).
  Division
:
Peripheral/diadromous
  Reproductive guild
:
guarders
  Typical activity level
:
normal
  Main Ref
:
  Coordinator
:

Show species | Nominal species list for Gasterosteidae | Identification keys | CAS specimen photos | References

Ref.
[ e.g. 9948]                       
Glossary
                    [ e.g. cephalopods]

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