Stichaeidae

lesser prickleback

Alectridium aurantiacum

The lone member of a North Pacific genus

• Polar
• Northern Hemisphere
• Regional distribution
• Marine fish
• Pacific Ocean
• Small
• Cold-water fish

The lesser prickleback (Alectridium aurantiacum) is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Stichaeidae, which includes the pricklebacks and shannies. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Alectridium which is found in the northern Pacific Ocean. Sometimes the lesser prickleback has also been called the North Pacific prickleback, because it is mostly found in these waters.