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Gill's sand lance (Ammodytoides gilli) — Ammodytidae

Gill's sand lance

Ammodytoides gilli
Family: Ammodytidae

The Gill's sand lance (Ammodytoides gilli) is a saltwater fish of the family Ammodytidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
11.6 cm
Water
Saltwater
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

Gill's sand lance is a sand lance (Ammodytidae) from shallow sandy water of the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a very slender, elongate, silvery body with a pointed, projecting lower jaw and a long dorsal fin. As a social fish it swims in schools just above the bottom and dives head-first into the sand in a flash when threatened, also burrowing in it at night. It filters small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Gill's sand lance?

The Gill's sand lance has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Gill's sand lance live?

The Gill's sand lance lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Gill's sand lance get?

The Gill's sand lance grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Gill's sand lance dangerous to humans?

No, the Gill's sand lance is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gills zandspiering sourced
English name
Gill's sand lance sourced
Scientific name
Ammodytoides gilli
Family
Ammodytidae
Other names
Gill's sand lance; Panamic sand lance; Silver sand lance verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.6 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Ammodytoides

More from the family Ammodytidae

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