Fourspine stickleback (Apeltes quadracus) fish species and information / pictures of Fourspine stickleback - Apeltes quadracus

Fourspine stickleback (Apeltes quadracus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Apeltes quadracus

Common Name
Fourspine stickleback

Biology
Adults occur mainly along weedy bays and backwaters, entering brackish water and to a limited extent, fresh water (Ref. 3814). Males build, guard and aerate the nest where the eggs are deposited (Ref. 205).

Classification

Classified By

Mitchill, 1815

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Sticklebacks and Seamoths (Gasterosteiformes)

Family

Sticklebacks and tubesnouts (Gasterosteidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada to North Carolina, USA. Mainly a near-shore marine species, but far inland populations occur in lakes in Nova Scotia in Canada and in Hudson, Delaware and Susquehanna River drainages (Ref. 5723).

Range

51°N - 35°N

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

4 °C

Water Temperature To

20 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

3 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 3 m (Ref. 85409)

Trophic Level

3.23 s.e. 0.38 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

6.4 cm

Common Length

4.1 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (16 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.84; tmax=3)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)