Species learning profile
American sand lance
Ammodytes americanus
American sand lance (Ammodytes americanus) is a saltwater fish associated with coastal flats habitat in North Atlantic. It buries in sand at night and erupts into the water by day.
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At a glance
- Agua
- Agua salada
- Habitat
- coastal flats
- Longitud máxima
- 16 cm
- Distribución
- North Atlantic
- Familia
- Ammodytidae
- Orden
- Uranoscopiformes
Observe
How to identify American sand lance
- It buries in sand at night and erupts into the water by day.
- Guide context: coastal flats habitat in North Atlantic.
- Reported maximum length: 16 cm — roughly ruler-length. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.
Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.
Place and pattern
Where it lives—and how it behaves
Habitat and range
This species is associated with coastal flats habitat across North Atlantic. Tides repeatedly cover and uncover sand, mud, or seagrass, creating short feeding windows.
Behavior
Schools near the bottom and burrows to rest
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Zooplankton.
Ecological role
A high-energy prey for seabirds, whales, and fish.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
American sand lance puede medir unos 16 cm y suele encontrarse cerca de coastal flats.
Think like a conservationist
A conservation lens
Coastal development, vessel pressure, degraded water quality, and seagrass loss can shrink feeding and nursery areas.
This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.
Recall
Quick knowledge check
Which habitat is most closely associated with American sand lance in this guide?
Keep exploring
References and further reading
Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.
Make connections