Sticklebacks (Gasterosteus)

General data
- Main name: Sticklebacks
Classification
- Family: Gasterosteidae - Sticklebacks
- Order: Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks
- Class: Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes
- Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
Description
Gasterosteus is a genus of ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Gasterosteidae, the sticklebacks. These fishes are found in freshwater, brackish water and marine habitats in the Holarctic region. There are currently 5 recognized species in this genus: Gasterosteus aculeatus Linnaeus, 1758 (Three-spined stickleback) Gasterosteus islandicus Sauvage, 1874 (Iceland stickleback) Gasterosteus microcephalus Girard, 1854 (Smallhead stickleback) Gasterosteus nipponicus Higuchi, Sakai & A. Goto, 2014 Gasterosteus wheatlandi Putnam, 1867 (Black-spotted stickleback)