Stichaeidae

Stichaeidae

The pricklebacks (also known as shannies) are a family, Stichaeidae, of fishes in the order Perciformes.Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, is the largest order of vertebrates, containing about 40% of all bony fish. Perciformes means "perch-like". They belong to the class of ray-finned fish, and comprise over 10,000 species found in almost all aquatic environments. It contains about 160 families, which is the most of any order within the vertebrates. They are also the most variably sized order of vertebrates, ranging from the 7 millimeters (0.28 in) Schindleria brevipinguis to the 5 meters (16 ft) Makaira species. They first appeared and diversified in the Late Cretaceous. Among well-known members of this group are cichlids, sunfish/bluegill, damselfish, bass, and, of course, perch.

Stichaeidae

Stichaeidae

Stichaeidae

Stichaeidae

Stichaeidae

Stichaeidae

Stichaeidae

Stichaeidae

Stichaeidae