Ammodytes

Ammodytes is a genus of fish commonly known as sand lances or sand eels. They are elongated, slender fish with a pointed head and a long, narrow body. Sand lances are found in coastal waters of the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Arctic Oceans. They are an important food source for many marine animals, including seabirds, seals, and cod.

Characteristics

Sand lances are typically 10-25 cm long, but some species can grow to over 40 cm. They have a silvery-grey body with a dark dorsal stripe. Their mouths are small and located at the tip of their snout. Sand lances have small, weak pelvic fins and a long, single dorsal fin. Their scales are small and embedded in their skin. They are adapted to a burrowing lifestyle, with a pointed head and strong, muscular tail.

Environment

Sand lances are found in a variety of coastal habitats, including sandy beaches, mudflats, and rocky shores. They typically live in shallow water, but some species have been found at depths of up to 200 meters. Sand lances are demersal fish, which means that they live near the bottom of the seafloor.

Behavior

Sand lances are often found in large schools. They are active predators, feeding mainly on plankton, small crustaceans, and other invertebrates. They use their pointed head to burrow into the sand, where they can hide from predators. They are also known to bury themselves in the sand to escape the cold during winter.

Life Cycle

Sand lances spawn in the spring or early summer. They lay their eggs in the sand, where they are incubated. The larvae hatch after a few weeks and then drift in the water column for several months before settling on the bottom. Sand lances can live for up to 5 years.

Economic Importance

Sand lances are an important food source for many marine animals, including cod, haddock, pollock, and seabirds. They are also used as bait in commercial fishing. They are harvested for human consumption in some areas but are not as popular as other fish species.

Species

There are over 20 species of sand lances in the genus Ammodytes. Some of the most common species include:

  • Ammodytes americanus (American sand lance)
  • Ammodytes dubius (Atlantic sand lance)
  • Ammodytes hexapterus (Six-fin sand lance)
  • Ammodytes marinus (European sand lance)
  • Ammodytes personatus (Masked sand lance)

References

FishBase
Wikipedia
WoRMS