Fish ð
ð
Gasterosteus aculeatus
| Size | 4â8 cm About the length of a large thumb |
|---|---|
| Weight | 0.5â4 g About the weight of a large grape |
| Lifespan | 2â3 years |
| Rarity | Common |
| M vs F | Males develop bright red bellies and blue eyes in spring breeding season; females are olive-silver with a swollen belly when gravid |
| Habitat | Ponds, streams, ditches, coastal shallows, estuaries â one of the most adaptable freshwater fish in the UK |
| Best time | AprilâJuly for breeding colours and nest-building |
| Conservation | UK: Green LC |
Did you know?
Male Sticklebacks build a nest from plant material, glued together with a kidney secretion â they then perform an elaborate zigzag courtship dance to lure females in
Male Sticklebacks build a nest from plant material, glued together with a kidney secretion â they then perform an elaborate zigzag courtship dance to lure females in
More for experts
Sticklebacks have been studied intensively in evolutionary biology â isolated lake populations have independently evolved the same adaptations dozens of times, a textbook case of parallel evolution
Often confused with
Nine-spined Stickleback (more slender, 9 spines on back â often in ponds), Bullhead (much larger, flattened head)
Nine-spined Stickleback (more slender, 9 spines on back â often in ponds), Bullhead (much larger, flattened head)