Ninespine stickleback stickleback species, such as the Brook Stickleback. Ninespine stickleback The ninespine stickleback ("Pungitius pungitius"), also called the ten-spined stickleback, is a freshwater species of fish in the family Gasterosteidae that inhabits temperate waters. It is widely but locally distributed throughout Eurasia and North America. Despite its name, the number of spines can vary from 8 to 12. The body of the ninespine stickleback tapers to a very narrow caudal peduncle and the caudal fin is fan-shaped. The body is less deep and more elongated than that of the three-spined stickleback with a thinner and longer caudal peduncle, but the best
Operculum (gastropod) the shell of "Charonia tritonis" is a seal made by the Minoan civilization. Opercula of certain gastropods, especially varieties from the Red Sea, have long served as an incense material in ancient Jewish tradition, as well as Arabian cultures. The operculum of conch species "Strombus tricornis" and "Lambis truncata sebae" are most commonly used in regions near the Middle East. Opercula from these conches may be the onycha incense material which is described in the Book of Exodus. Operculum powder is also an important ingredient in Chinese and Japanese incense making. Here it is called ""bèi xiāng"" (Chinese: 貝香; "lit."