Species profile
Brook Stickleback
Culaea inconstans
At a glance
Brook Stickleback (Culaea inconstans) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 2,840 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Ontario, Michigan, and Wisconsin the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- One of North America's smallest freshwater fish, brook sticklebacks rarely exceed 6 cm (2.5 inches) in length.
- Males construct a compact nest from plant material and aggressively guard eggs and newly hatched fry.
- They carry 4–6 isolated sharp dorsal spines that make them very difficult for larger fish to swallow.
- Brook sticklebacks tolerate extremely cold water and range widely across Canada and the northern United States.
- Their spine count varies between individuals, which is reflected in the species name inconstans, meaning 'variable.'
Where Brook Stickleback are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Brook Stickleback
Background
The brook stickleback is a small freshwater fish that is distributed across the US and Canada. It grows to a length of about 2 inches. It occupies the northern part of the eastern United States, as well as the southern half of Canada. Small populations are scattered throughout the Mississippi-Great Lakes basin extending to Colorado, New Mexico, Kentucky, Tennessee, etc., though some of these…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Brook Stickleback article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.