threespine stickleback

[ three-spahyn stik-uhl-bak ]

noun

1. a widely distributed stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, occurring in marine, brackish, or fresh waters throughout the northern hemisphere.

Word History and Origins

Origin of threespine stickleback¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

In Big Bear Valley, burros pose the greatest threat to such rare and endangered species as Big Bear checkerbloom flowers, slender-petaled mustard plants, and the unarmored threespine stickleback fish.

From Los Angeles Times

State and federal biologists are also worried about the loss of habitat for 150 federally endangered unarmored threespine stickleback fish that were rescued after the 2016 Sand fire burned through Soledad Canyon in northwestern L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

The groups for years had campaigned against development of the sprawling ranch, arguing it would extend Southern California’s urban sprawl, add to regional traffic, threaten air and water quality, destroy Native American burial sites and wipe out endangered species including the unarmored threespine stickleback fish, arroyo toads and San Fernando Valley spineflower.

From Los Angeles Times

A key sticking point for environmentalists had been the threat the development posed for the unarmored threespine stickleback fish.

From Los Angeles Times

An environmental impact report was completed in 2011, but courts later found the developer hadn’t provided sufficient evidence that the project would not affect greenhouse gas emissions and raised concerns about threats to a native fish, the unarmored threespine stickleback.

From Los Angeles Times