Pungitius pungitius (Linnaeus, 1758)

Ninespine stickleback

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Gasterosteiformes \| Gasterosteidae
Synonyms	Gasterosteus pungitius, Gasteracanthus pungitius, Pungitius pungitius pungitius, ... more
Common names	Spawnytickle, Nine-spined stikleback, Épinoche à neuf épines, ... more

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AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Kottelat, M. 1997. (Ref. 13696)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 9.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27547); common length : 6.5 cm NG male/unsexed; (Ref. 27547); max. reported age: 5 years (Ref. 27547)

Environment

Benthopelagic; anadromous (Ref. 51243); freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range ? - 110 m (Ref. 58426), usually 70 - 77 m (Ref. 1998)

Climate / Range

Temperate; 10°C - 20°C (Ref. 1672); 82°N - 35°N, 180°W - 180°E

Circumarctic: Atlantic drainages across Canada as far south as New Jersey, USA; Liard River in British Columbia, Canada (Ref. 10882); Pacific coast of Alaska; Great Lakes basin; drainages of northern Europe and Asia, from the UK and France to Siberia, Russia, Korea, Japan, and China.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 13; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 8 - 13; Vertebrae: 30 - 35. Distinguished by the presence of 7 to 12 free spines in front of the dorsal fin and a long caudal keel that usually reaches beneath the dorsal fin (Ref. 27547). Dorsal spines separated from one another, each with a rudimentary membrane on its posterior side; anal spine stout and curved; posterior edge of pectorals rounded; pelvic ray pressed close to the spine; caudal fin usually truncate, varying from slightly indented to slightly rounded (Ref. 27547). Pale green, grey, or olive above, strongly pigmented with irregularly arranged dark bars or blotches; silvery below (Ref. 1998). Fins colorless (Ref. 27547). Breeding colors may be variable, depending on sex, population and stage of breeding cycle but color of females always less intense than those of males (Ref. 27547). Aggressive females become dark on the back and paler below, then sometimes become paler with more conspicuous saddle marks as actual breeding approaches (Ref. 30380). Aggressive males become totally black except for the colorless fins and the membranes on the pelvic spines, which are white. At breeding, the males become paler on the back and more intensely black on the belly, especially under the chin (Ref. 28993, 30380). Breeding males on the east coast of North America have been reported as reddish under the head and greenish on the belly (Ref. 27547). Caudal fin with 12 rays (Ref. 2196).

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). Feeds 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). 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 (Ref. 27547).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Least Concern (LC)	Harmless

Human uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

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Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=1-2; tmax=5; Fec=350)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Froese, Rainer

Modified by Ortañez, Auda Kareen

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