Gasterosteus aculeatus

englantiDistinguished uniquely from its congeners in Europe by having trunk and caudal peduncle covered by a complete series of 29-35 bony scutes. Other characters important to separate this species from other species of the genus include posterior edge of scutes crenulated and scutes forming a lateral keel on caudal peduncle. Scutes may be missing on posterior part of trunk in hybrid zone with Gasterosteus gymnurus and in some isolated freshwater populations of northeastern Europe (Ref. 59043). Identified by the 3 to 4 sharp, free spines before the dorsal fin, the pelvic fin reduced to a sharp spine and a small ray, and the series of plates along the sides of the body (Ref. 27547). Gill rakers long and slender, 17 to 25 on the first arch or strictly freshwater forms, 1 or 2 more in anadromous forms; lateral line with microscopic pores (Ref. 27547). The anadromous form is fully plated, with up to 37 plates on the sides and a rather pronounced keel on each side of the caudal peduncle (Ref. 27547). Dorsal spines separated from each other and from the soft-rayed fins, each spine having a reduced membrane attached to its posterior side; anal spine free from rest of the fin; posterior margin of pectorals nearly truncate; caudal truncate to slightly indented (Ref. 27547). Freshwater forms usually mottled brown or greenish; anadromous forms silvery green to bluish black (Ref. 27547). A few isolated populations are black (Ref. 27547). Sides usually pale; belly yellow, white or silvery (Ref. 27547). Fins pale; pectoral rays often have dark dots (Ref. 27547). Breeding males (except for black forms) become brilliant bluish or green with blue or green eyes, and the forward part of the body, especially the breast region, turns bright red or orange (Ref. 27547). Caudal fin with 12 rays (Ref. 2196).

• Gasterosteus atkinsi Bean, 1879
• Gasterosteus aculeatus messinicus Stephanidis, 1971
• Gasterosteus nemausensis Crespon, 1844
• Gasterosteus trachurus Cuvier, 1829
• Gasterosteus niger Cuvier, 1829
• Gasterosteus algeriensis Sauvage, 1874
• Gasterosteus brachycentrus Cuvier, 1829
• Gasterosteus quadrispinosus Crespon, 1844
• Gasterosteus aculeatus santaeannae Regan, 1909
• Gasterosteus neoboracensis DeKay, 1842
• Gasterosteus suppositus Sauvage, 1874
• Gasterosteus cataphractus (Pallas, 1814)
• Gasterosteus loricatus Reinhardt, 1837
• Gasterosteus obolarius Cuvier, 1829
• Gasterosteus inopinatus Girard, 1854
• Gasterosteus plebeius Girard, 1854
• Gasterosteus dimidiatus Reinhardt, 1837
• Gasterosteus noveboracensis Cuvier, 1829
• Gasterosteus semiloricatus Cuvier, 1829
• Gasterosteus argentatissimus Blanchard, 1866
• Gasterosteus ponticus Nordmann, 1840
• Gasterosteus elegans Blanchard, 1866
• Gasterosteus cuvieri Girard, 1850
• Gasterosteus bispinosus Walbaum, 1792
• Gasterosteus hologymnus Regan, 1909
• Gasterosteus santaeannae Regan, 1909
• Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus Linnaeus, 1758
• Gasterosteus tetracanthus Cuvier, 1829
• Gasterosteus intermedius Girard, 1856
• Gasterosteus quadrispinosa Crespon, 1844
• Gasterosteus pugetti Girard, 1856
• Gasterosteus spinulosus Yarrell, 1835
• Gasterosteus Dekayi Ayres, 1855
• Gasterosteus biaculeatus Mitchill, 1815
• Leiurus aculeatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Gasterosteus biarmatus Krynicki, 1840
• Gasterosteus semiarmatus Cuvier, 1829
• Gasterosteus leiurus Cuvier, 1829
• Gasterosteus argyropomus Cuvier, 1829
• Gasterosteus serratus Ayres, 1855
• Gasterosteus texanus Sauvage, 1874
• Gasterosteus neustrianus Blanchard, 1866
• Gasterosteus insculptus Richardson, 1855
• Gasterosteus aculeatus algeriensis Sauvage, 1874
• Gasterosteus aculeatus williamsoni Girard, 1854
• Gasterosteus teraculeatus Lacepède, 1801
• Gasteracanthus cataphractus Pallas, 1814
• Gastrosteus hologymnus Regan, 1909
• Gasterosteus bailloni Blanchard, 1866
• Gasterosteus atkinsii Bean, 1879
• Gasterosteus williamsoni Girard, 1854