Family: |
Gasterosteidae (Sticklebacks and tubesnouts) |
Max. size: |
3.925 cm SL (male/unsexed); 4.6 cm SL (female) |
Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater |
Distribution: |
Europe: France. |
Diagnosis: |
This species is redescribed and is distinguished from its congeners by tThe following characters: head rounded with a straight or slightly convex snout; pectoral rays 11 (vs. typically 10-11) and no scute on the caudal peduncle (vs. 0-12 P. pungitius and 0-4 P. laevis); D VIII-IX (neotype IX); no scute on the caudal peduncle; pectoral fin rays (10) 11 (12-13) (neotype 11). Colouration: adult specimens with a yellowish coloration and with very thin black dots, whereas the young ones are blueish green; however, color pattern is very variable between individuals from a same population, or having the same age or sex (Ref. 125067). |
Biology: |
Inhabits streams, tributaries, and ponds. May also have a tolerance of salinity like the other species of Pungitius. In the Garonne drainage, it has a very restrictive habitat with low elevation and short distance from the source. Monogamy observed, also nest building, but monogamy needs to be verified because ordinarily, the ninespined-sticklebacks are polygamous. It can hybridize with the two other species where they are in sympatry: with P. pungitius in the Vienne basin and P. laevis in the coastal Atlantic Basins (Ref. 125067). |
IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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