Gasterosteus aculeatus

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