Definition

Noun: 1. A species of stickleback fish: Gasterosteus pungitius is the scientific name for the ninespine stickleback, a small, spiny-rayed fish. The definition specifies it is a type confined to or primarily found in river habitats.

Usage Notes

• This is a taxonomic name (binomial nomenclature) used in scientific contexts, particularly in biology, zoology, and ecology. It is not used in everyday conversation.
• The word is always treated as a singular noun. Its plural form is (following the convention for scientific names) or, more commonly in general writing, "ninespine sticklebacks."
• In formal writing, the name should be italicized. The genus name () is capitalized, while the species epithet () is not.

Examples

• The study focused on the population dynamics of in the watershed.
• is distinguished from other sticklebacks by its series of nine or ten short dorsal spines.
• Researchers collected several specimens of from the river's tributaries.

Advanced Usage

• In scientific literature, the genus name may be abbreviated after first use (e.g., ).
• The name can be used attributively to modify other nouns in a technical context (e.g., " morphology," " habitat").

Variants and Related Words

• Ninespine stickleback: The common English name for .
• Pungitius pungitius: A reclassified or synonymous scientific name used in some taxonomic references for the same species.
• Stickleback: The common name for the family (Gasterosteidae) to which this species belongs.
• Gasterosteus: The genus name, which includes other stickleback species like the three-spined stickleback ().

Synonyms

• Ninespine stickleback
• Ten-spined stickleback (a less common variant)

Different Meanings

This term has only one specific meaning as a zoological species name. It does not have idiomatic, phrasal, or figurative meanings.

Noun

1. confined to rivers