Three-spined Stickleback
Gasterosteus aculeatus
Habitat: Rocky shores amongst weed, estuaries and fresh water
Depth: 5-100m
Food: Small crustaceans, fish larvae, worms and molluscs
Length: Up to 5cm
Lifespan: Up to 8 year
Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
Also known as ‘tiddlers’, three-spined sticklebacks can live in both fresh and salty waters, including estuaries. The male stickleback makes a nest and entices a female in to lay eggs with a zig-zag dance and bright red colours on his belly. He then looks after the eggs and protects the fry when they hatch – even chasing them to teach them self-defence against predators!