Whom do we see in the fish camera?

Photo Kaido Haagen
Translation Liis
Nine-spine stickleback
 
Nine-spine stickleback   Luukarits       Pungitius pungitius
 
Sticklebacks are diligently busy in camera view as long as no trouts are present. They are the smallest of our sticklebacks, the length of one-year-old fish is about 3 centimetres, older specimens 6 to 7 centimetres. The body shape of the ninespine sticklebacks looks tapered, the mouth upward-turned and the caudal peduncle that at once catches attention is extremely thin. The back colour can be quite variable, and the bars that start on the back reach to the edge of the belly on some individuals. In front of the dorsal or back fin there are generally nine spines that may be erect or lie close to the back. In front of the ventral fin there is a moveable spine. The ninespine stickleback has no scales covering its body; the tail peduncle is covered by small bone plates – it seems to be a quite efficient protection against enemies.
 
The tiny sticklebacks feed on what they can get: from zooplankton to fish fry hatched from roes. They cannot plunder the spawning nests of trout that are covered with gravel. When however roe grains has been swept out of the nest or brought along with the water flow on spawning – they become the booty of the sticklebacks.
 
The life arrangements of the ninespine stickleback have been studied in Britain: the tiny fish do not have a particularly large brain and they cannot be said to be intelligent. But they are exceptionally adaptable, and successfully mimic the behaviour and actions of larger fish for the preservation of the species.
 
Image from webcam captured by Hagnat, LK forum
 
 


 

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