Three-spined stickleback  (Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus)

Range

This widespread species is found throughout Britain and continental Europe from the Iberian Peninsula, the Black Sea and Italy in the south, reaching as far north as Iceland, Norway and the White Sea in Russia (2). Elsewhere it occurs in North Africa, Iran, the North Pacific, and the North Atlantic (5).

Habitat

Both marine and freshwater forms of this fish are known (2). The freshwater form is found in well-vegetated sites that typically have muddy or sandy bottoms. In the sea they are found only in coastal areas and juveniles are associated with drifting patches of seaweed. This species is also common in estuaries (5).

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