Gasterosteoidei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gasterosteoidei |
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| Three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Suborder: | Gasterosteoidei Pietsch,1978 |
| Type species | |
| Gasterosteus aculeatus Linnaeus, 1758
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| Families | |
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See text |
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Gasterosteoidei is a group of ray-finned fishes. This group includes the famous sticklebacks and their relatives. Scientists usually place them in a larger group called the order Scorpaeniformes.
Contents
What are Gasterosteoidei?
Gasterosteoidei is a suborder of fish. Think of a suborder as a smaller group within a larger order. For a long time, scientists thought these fish were part of an order called Gasterosteiformes. This older group also included sea horses and pipefishes.
However, modern science uses DNA and other clues to group animals. Now, many scientists believe Gasterosteoidei are more closely related to fish like scorpionfishes. This means they are part of the Scorpaeniformes order. It's like finding out your distant cousin is actually your close neighbor!
Families of Gasterosteoidei
This group of fish includes several different families. Each family has its own unique types of fish. Here are the main families and some examples of the fish you might find in them:
- Family Hypoptychidae (Sand eel)
- Hypoptychus
- Family Aulorhynchidae (Tubesnouts)
- Aulichthys
- Aulorhynchus
- Family Gasterosteidae (Sticklebacks)
- Family Indostomidae (Armoured sticklebacks)
- Indostomus
Special Features of Gasterosteoidei
These fish have some cool and unique features. One special thing is their mouth. They have an upper jaw that can stick out, almost like a small telescope. This helps them grab food.
Many Gasterosteoidei fish also have a kind of "armor" on their bodies. This armor is made of bony plates. These plates can be found on their sides, often in a single row. They also have very small mouths.
Another interesting fact is about their kidneys. The kidneys of these fish can make a special sticky chemical. Male fish use this chemical to build nests out of plants. This helps them protect their eggs.
Most fish in this group are quite small. The largest one is the sea stickleback (Spinachia spinachia). It can grow up to about 22 centimeters (about 8.7 inches) long.
Where Gasterosteoidei Live
You can find Gasterosteoidei fish mostly in the northern parts of the world. They live in places with cooler temperatures, like the temperate and Arctic regions.
Most of these fish live in fresh water, salty ocean water, or brackish water (a mix of fresh and salt water). However, there's one exception: the Indostomidae family. These "armored sticklebacks" live only in fresh water in mainland Southeast Asia.
See also
In Spanish: Gasterosteiformes para niños
