Gasterosteus aculeatus

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