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These are slender, streamlined fishes, more or less transparent in life, with a small spinous first dorsal fin which may escape notice. The anal fin is also diagnostic since it has so many rays. The scales are very thin and deciduous and are cycloid. Most members of this family are marine fishes, but many species live in fresh waters. The family is widespread in tropical and temperate regions. A single species in the Great Lakes region. The brook silverside, a surface swimmer, is common in lakes and quieter parts of streams. It may skip into the air for a short distance. The breeding season is late spring. The eggs each have a sticky, thread-like process, that serves as a flotation mechanism and later as a holdfast. Growth of the brook stickleback is rapid; the young reach adult size of about 10 cm and are able to spawn at the age of 1 year. The life span is usually less than 2 years. They are eaten by predaceous fishes.
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