Fifteen-spined stickleback

D-Seestichling; GB-Fifteen-spined stickleback, Sea stickleback; DK-Tangsnarre; PL-Pocierniec; LT-Jūrinė dyglė; LV-Jūrasstagars; EST-Pocierniec; RU-Морская колюшка; FIN-Vaskikala; S-Tångspigg

Characters

1) Longish snout.
2) 14-17 free spines on the back (often layed back and hard to see).
3) Pelvic fins spine-like.
●) Body elongated.
●) Colouration brownish-silvern.
Often up to 20 cm, max. 25 cm length.

Similar species

Three-spined stickleback - only 3 free spines on the back, short snout, short caudal peduncle.

Nine-spined stickleback - 9 to 11 dorsal spines; snout short; caudal peduncle shorter.

Biology

Often restricted to seagrass beds and algae beds, also occurring in tide pools and estuaries; down to 10 m depth. The male builds a nest of parts of algae and a selfmade secretion for a clutch of 150 to 200 eggs; carries out brood care. In contrast to the other smaller sticklebacks purely marine.

Diet

Feeds on crustaceans and smaller fish.

Importance

Of no commercial importance.

Endangerment

Presumably not endangered.