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| Sticklebacks | |
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| Three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Suborder: | Gasterosteoidei |
| Family: | Gasterosteidae Bonaparte, 1831 |
Sticklebacks are fish of the Gasterosteidae family. FishBase currently recognises sixteen species in the family, grouped in five genera. Several of the species have a number of recognised subspecies, and the taxonomy of the family is thought to be in need of revision.
An unusual features of sticklebacks is that they have no scales, although some species have bony armour plates. They are related to pipefish, seahorses, eelpouts, and sculpins.
Stickleback species are found in fresh water environments in Europe, Asia and North America. They feed on small crustaceans and fish larvae.
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