Arctic Life/Arctic Animals/Fish/Species/Pricklebacks

From Arctic Bioscan Wiki

Pricklebacks — Stichaeidae

Closely related to the gunnels, the pricklebacks, or shannies, are marine fishes that inhabit shallow, inshore habitats in the cold water regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Their bodies are generally elongate, slender and can be eel-like. Their long, spiny dorsal fins extend from just behind the gills to the rounded, caudal fin. The anal fin is also long and spiny, extending from mid-body to the caudal peduncle. Pectoral fins are large and well developed, but pelvic fins may or may not be present. Pricklebacks have small scales on their body, but none on their head. They are carnivorous and feed on crustaceans and other marine invertebrates, but have no economic importance.

Eight species occur in Arctic Canada: