Gasterosteid

/ˌɡæstərˈɒstɪd/ noun

Definition

A fish of the family Gasterosteidae, commonly called sticklebacks, small freshwater and marine fish known for their bony plates and spines.

Etymology

From 'Gasterosteidae' (the family name) + '-id' (suffix denoting a member of that group). The family name comes from Greek 'gaster' (belly) + 'osteon' (bone), referring to the bony plating on the belly.

Kelly Says

Sticklebacks are tiny fish obsessed with the belly-bone structure that defines them—in fact, they're famous in evolutionary biology because different populations lost their armor plates at different rates, showing how quickly evolution can strip away body features when they're no longer useful.

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