Ninespine stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) fish species and information / pictures of Ninespine stickleback - Pungitius pungitius

Ninespine stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) fish species information

Scientific Name
Pungitius pungitius

Common Name
Ninespine stickleback

Biology
Found in shallow vegetated areas of lakes, ponds, and pools of sluggish streams; sometimes in open water over sand (Ref. 5723). Marine populations found near shore and move into fresh water to spawn (Ref. 5723). There appears to be seasonal movements inshore to shallow water in the spring for spawning, and, in the fall, offshore to deep water, or even to the less saline parts of the sea, by the young and adults that survive spawning (Ref. 27547). Nerito-pelagic (Ref. 58426). Feed on small invertebrates; also on aquatic insects and their eggs and larvae (Ref. 1998). Eggs are found in nests constructed from plant material (Ref. 41678). Males build, guard and aerate the nest where the eggs are deposited (Ref. 205). Females grow faster and live longer than do other males (Ref. 27547). Males seldom live beyond age three, due to heavy post-spawning mortality, but females may live to age five or more (Ref. 27547). When abundant, it is preyed upon by other fishes (Ref. 1998); also preyed by birds (Ref. 27547). May be used as human or dog food or as a source of oil

Classification

Classified By
Linnaeus, 1758
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Sticklebacks and Seamoths (Gasterosteiformes)
Family
Sticklebacks and tubesnouts (Gasterosteidae)

Distribution

Region
Circumarctic
Distribution
Circumarctic: Arctic and Atlantic drainages across Canada and Alaska, and as far south as New Jersey, USA; Pacific coast of Alaska; Great Lakes basin; also in Eurasia (Ref. 5723). Eurasia: coastal areas of northern Europe, from Netherlands to northern Russia, including southern Norway and Baltic basin. Widely distributed inland in eastern Scandinavia. Extends eastward to Siberia and Japan, but remains to be confirmed that East Asia populations are conspecific with European ones
Range
82°N - 35°N, 180°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate
Temperate
Water Temperature From
10 °C
Water Temperature To
20 °C
Depth From - meters
Unknown m
Depth To - meters
110 m
Zone
benthopelagic
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; anadromous (Ref. 51243); depth range ? - 110 m (Ref. 58426), usually 70 - 77 m
Trophic Level
3.29 s.e. 0.40 Based on diet studies.
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
9.0 cm
Common Length
6.5 cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5020 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial
Vulnerability
Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100)
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=1-2; tmax=5; Fec=350)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Least Concern (LC)