stickleback
A small fish of the family Gasterosteidae, known for the spines on its back. Common in biology and everyday contexts.
The stickleback is a small fish with spines on its back.
川でトゲウオを見つけた。
I found a stickleback in the river.
Kanji spelling using 棘 (thorn); rarely used in practice.
Alternate kanji spelling using 刺 (sting); rarely used.
Compound of とげ (thorn, spine) and うお (fish). The kanji spellings 棘魚 and 刺魚 reflect this composition, but the word is usually written in kana.