Blackspotted stickleback facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackspotted stickleback |
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| Blackspotted stickleback | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Gasterosteus
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| Species: |
G. wheatlandi
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| Gasterosteus wheatlandi Putnam, 1867
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The blackspotted stickleback (Gasterosteus wheatlandi) is a small, interesting fish. It lives in the western Atlantic Ocean. You can find it along the coasts from Newfoundland in Canada down to Massachusetts in the United States. This fish is a type of benthic fish. This means it lives near the bottom of the water. It can grow up to 7.5 centimeters long.
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What is a Blackspotted Stickleback?
The blackspotted stickleback is a type of fish in the stickleback family. These fish are known for having sharp spines on their backs. These spines help protect them from predators. The blackspotted stickleback gets its name from small dark spots on its body.
Where They Live
This fish prefers certain types of water. It lives in brackish water and marine environments. Brackish water is a mix of fresh and saltwater. You might find it where rivers meet the ocean, like in estuaries. Marine environments are simply saltwater, like the open ocean. They live near the bottom of these waters. This is why they are called "benthic" fish.
What They Look Like
The blackspotted stickleback is a small fish. It usually grows to about 7.5 centimeters (about 3 inches) long. That's about the length of your finger! They have a slender body. Their color can vary, but they often have a greenish or brownish back. Their sides are usually silvery. The "black spots" are small and can be hard to see. Like other sticklebacks, they have a few strong spines on their back. These spines stand up when the fish feels threatened.
Life in the Water
Blackspotted sticklebacks are active fish. They swim around the bottom looking for food. Their diet usually includes small invertebrates. These are tiny creatures without backbones. They might eat small worms or crustaceans. Sticklebacks are known for their unique breeding habits. The male stickleback builds a nest. He uses plants and other bits from the bottom. He then tries to attract a female to lay her eggs in his nest. After the eggs are laid, the male guards them. He protects them until they hatch. This is a special behavior for fish.
Images for kids
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A blackspotted stickleback swimming.
