Apeltes quadracus
Fourspine Stickleback
NS
G5
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Gasterosteiformes (Sticklebacks and relatives)
Gasterosteidae (Sticklebacks)
Apeltes
Apeltes quadracus (Fourspine Stickleback)
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal.
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada to North Carolina, USA. Mainly a near-shore marine species, but far inland populations occur in lakes in Nova Scotia in Canada and in Hudson, Delaware and Susquehanna River drainages (Ref. 5723).
Habitat Associations
Freshwater, brackish, marine. benthopelagic. depth range 0-3 m. Found in: streams, lakes, estuaries.
Biology
Adults occur mainly along weedy bays and backwaters, entering brackish water and to a limited extent, fresh water (Ref. 3814). Feed along the bottom, primarily on diatoms, worms and crustaceans by sucking in the prey with a pipetting action (Ref. 27549). Males build, guard and aerate the nest where the eggs are deposited (Ref. 205).
Max length: 6.4 cm TL; common length: 4.1 cm TL; max age: 3 years.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; guarders (nesters); parental care: paternal. The male builds, guards and aerates the nest (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2011-10-20. Resilience: High (K=0.84; tmax=3).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea and W.B. Scott (1991) Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. Am. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. (20):183 p.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr (1991) A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Delbeek, J.C. and D.D. Williams (1988) Feeding selectivity of four species of sympatric stickleback in brackish-water habitats in eastern Canada. J. Fish Biol. 32(1):41-62.
Coker, G.A., C.B. Portt and C.K. Minns (2001) Morphological and ecological characteristics of Canadian freshwater fishes. Can. MS Rpt. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2554:iv+89p.
Sargent, P.S., D.A. Methven, R.G. Hooper and C.H. McKenzie (2008) A range extension of the Atlantic silverside, Menidia menidia, to coastal waters of southwestern Newfoundland. Canadian Field-Naturalist 122(4): 338-344.
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