Fourspine Stickleback
Apeltes quadracus
Status
Native to both Newfoundland and Labrador.
Habitat
The four spine is generally confined to
coastal areas of eastern North America. Mostly a near shore marine species,
however some inland populations occur in lakes in Nova Scotia and, in Delaware
in the U.S.
Range
The four spine is generally found in
brackish (salty) waters near the coast. It occurs in the Atlantic Provinces and
Quebec.
Food
The sticklebacks eat any food that is
available to it including worms. small drowned insects, fish eggs, crustaceans,
and larvae.
Breeding Biology
The fourspine spawns in spring or early
summer (May-July). Males and Females appear on the spawning beds and then divide
into separate groups. The males build the nests in shallow drainage channels.
The nest is made up of aquatic plants and twigs bound together in a cup shaped
basket. The basket is held together by thread like kidney secretions. The male
will attract a female through a mating dance; swimming in extremely fast circles
around or in front of her. At intervals he will stop and display his red pelvic
fins . Eggs are layed in clusters of 30 to 40 eggs. Upon completion of spawning
the female is driven off. The nest has two small holes on either side it and the
male aerates the eggs through these holes.
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