Ammodytes americanus DeKay, 1842
American sand lance
Ammodytes americanus
photo by Sargent, P.

Family:  Ammodytidae (Sand lances)
Max. size:  23.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 73 m
Distribution:  Northwest Atlantic: southern Delaware north to Labrador.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 52-61; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 26-33; Vertebrae: 62-70. Number of lateral plicae 106-126, with a mean of 117.4. Best separated from A. dubius by the number of plicae singly or in combination with the number of vertebrae.
Biology:  Found in shallow coastal waters as well as in protected bays and estuaries (Ref. 10198). Occurs in large schools and burrows in the sand at times to a depth of several inches. Feeds primarily on copepods (Ref. 27549).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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