A rare glimpse of the only remaining pair of chucklebacks. They are swimming in a 'gormless' formation, while a normal fish looks on in dismay.

Reproduction: Chance would be a fine thing! No chuckleback has ever been caught en flagrante, as it were. They have been seen pursuing other fish, water beetles, bits of crisp packet and children's shoes.

#3030 - Chuckleback! (spinchumpus rotherhami)

The chuckleback is a spiny fish, with characteristic bristles around it's top lip and head. These are said to resemble hair, and complement the brown scales excellently. It has an unusual 'foolish' swimming motion. The pupae look broadly similar, but with a different head - one that looks a bit like a kind of fishy 'hound' head. (Note: chucklebacks are not related to sticklebrothers, the hapless land-based spiny humanoids (op cit).)

Number of legs: No legs at all.

Size: Fish size.

Habitat: The chuckleback can be found swimming in freshwater streams and rivers, near to junior schools. They tend to dwell on the bottom amongst the stones, mud and bits of broken glass. They are especially common in the Don Valley.

Diet: River chips.

Typical behaviour: Chucklebacks have developed a number of unusual and curious behaviours that can be observed by looking underwater with magic glasses or becoming amphibious or something. Once you've done this, you stand a good chance of seeing two chucklebacks carrying a 'ladder' made from small stones and weed across the stream. At other times they could be carrying a sheet of 'glass' or demolishing the wrong 'chimney'. This is usually accompanied by a bigger, more serious, fish looking cross and holding it's head in it's fins.

Social grouping: There are only two chucklebacks in all the world, although fish sciengtists are researching the possibility that there were originally five of them. Nevertheless, now there are only two, so be careful. Socially they get on pretty well - most of the time. The bigger chuckleback seems to be the dominant male, while the smaller one spends much of it's time throwing its fins in the air and looking daft.

Relationship with man: Whilst these fish do not specifically have anything to offer mankind as such, this doesn't stop foolish humans from attempting to employ them as decorators, pet-guardians or to look after some fragile item such as a priceless vase. This inevitably ends in mayhem and the whole business ending up a right pig's ear. It is a common sight in the north of England to see burly men angrily shaking their fist at a stream and cursing.

Chucklebacks in captivity: The freshwater sciengtist, Log, recently caught some chucklebacks and is keeping them in a jam jar. Arrange a viewing here.