Three-needle sticking stick [1] ( lat. Gasterosteus aculeatus ) is a species of fresh-water ray-finned fish from the order of ringworm. The name received due to three spikes located in front of the dorsal fin. It lives in the rivers, lakes and sea coasts of Europe , the Far East , west and east of North America . [2] The length of the body reaches 12 centimeters with a weight of 4 grams. [3]
| Three-pointed stickleback |
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| Scientific classification |
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| No rank : | Bilateral symmetrical |
| Gender: | Three-spined thorns |
| View: | Three-pointed stickleback |
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| International scientific name |
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Gasterosteus aculeatus Linnaeus , 1758 |
| Security status |
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Least ConcernedIUCN 3.1 Least Concern : 8951 |
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In the encyclopedic dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron , an alternative name is indicated: slingshot [4] .
In Kamchatka, there is the use of the old name hahalcha . [five]
Three-spined stickleback can live in both sea and fresh water. The body is somewhat elongated and compressed laterally. Caudal stalk short. The fish is not covered with scales, but with bone plates in an amount of more than two to three dozen. The caudal fin (7-10 branched rays) is shorter than the dorsal fin (9-13 rays) and resembles it in shape. In front of the caudal fin there is a small sharp spine, three more are located in front of the dorsal fin. Fan-shaped pectoral fins consist of unbranched rays. The ventral fins are in the form of serrated bone spines. The dorsal and abdominal spines in the raised position are closed with a special latch, representing a formidable weapon. Wide caudal fin slightly rounded. The head is relatively large with a slightly pointed snout. The mouth is small, the upper jaw is shorter than the lower. The eyes are relatively large.
Coloring depends on age, physiological condition, habitat of fish or season. If in the winter the sticklebacks are silvery-grayish, in the summer they become greenish and brownish with a silver tint. Males and females do not differ in color, except for the breeding season. During this period, the male’s back becomes bluish, and the lower part of the body and head turn red, the eyes turn bright blue. In females, immediately before laying eggs, dark transverse stripes form on the back and sides of the body, and the lower side of the body becomes pale yellow. After spawning, this color disappears. Three-spined sticklebacks live 3-4 years. [6]
The male during the breeding season
Fish does not have commercial value, but with mass development it can be used as fodder for poultry, fertilizers for fields, as well as for obtaining feed flour and healing fat. [6]
Spikes are mobile, pack. During spawning, males are aggressive, so the aquarium should be large enough in area. As the soil should be used fine sand with thickets of plants, including small-leaved ones. Lighting should be natural or in the form of incandescent lamps, switched on through variable resistance. This is due to the fact that with a sharp change in illumination, the fish get scared and throw themselves abruptly. Water: 16-22 ° C, dH up to 15 °, pH 6.5-7.5, rich in oxygen. [7]
