Nikolaas Tinbergen

As a boy, I had two small aquaria in our backyard in which I watched, each spring, the nest building and other fascinating behaviours of sticklebacks.

Dutch Scientist

Use 'stickleback' to refer to smaller fish found in rivers, lakes, or streams.

Habitat Specific

'Stickleback' can reference different species; some may be unique to specific regions.

Species Variation

Despite 'sharp-pointed' in the definition, not all sticklebacks have prominent spines.

Not Always Sharp

Use 'stickleback' to refer to small fish found in saltwater, like seas or oceans.

Ocean Environments

Incorporate 'stickleback' when talking about casual or recreational sea fishing.

Fishing Context

Discuss 'stickleback' in the context of diets of larger predatory sea creatures.