Although rather colorless, the Western Banded Killifish is a good 

 aquarium fish. It is hardy and gets along well with other fishes of 

 its size. 



THE STICKLEBACKS 

 (Gasterosteidae) 



The sticklebacks are very small, very spiny, exceedingly pugnacious 

 fishes without true scales. The body tapers sharply to a narrow base 

 at the tail fin. Several isolated spines precede the dorsal fin. Each 

 ventral fin is armed with a single sharp spine. 



In general, the sticklebacks inhabit the coastal waters and rivers 

 of this country, but certain species are found in fresh waters re- 

 mote from the oceans. All of them build enclosed nests of sticks 

 and other bits of vegetation cemented together by the males. Each 

 male drives several successive concubines through his nest and then 

 cares for the numerous offspring until they become too large to 

 keep in the nest. 



Brook Stickleback (Eucalia inconstans) 



Appearance. A tiny, spindle-shaped, scaleless, somewhat com- 

 pressed fish with prominent spines. There are five large, separate 

 spines which represent the anterior dorsal fin; there is a short, 

 sharp, toothed spine on each pelvic fin, and before the anal fin is a 

 prominent spine only slightly shorter than the fin rays. A sort of 

 bony keel runs from the pelvic fins to the anal fin. The body color 

 is olive overlaid by a network of darker lines in irregular, zigzag 

 patterns. There may be a streak of green at the top of the cheek 

 and gill cover. The belly is pale creamy white. The breeding male 

 is very dark and without an evident color pattern above. Below, it 



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