Common Name
American Sand Lance
Year Described
DeKay, 1842
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 52-61 (mean ~57)
Anal Fin: 26-33 (mean ~29)
Pectoral Fin: 11-15 (mean ~13)
Gill Rakers: 21-28 (mean ~24) on first arch
Vertebrae: 62-70 (mean ~66)
Lateral Plicae: 106-126 (mean ~117)
Color
Brilliant silvery, darker blue-black above.
Size
Maximum size to 23.5cm SL.
Habitat
An inshore species found commonly in estuaries and protected waters.
Range
Northwestern Atlantic: Labrador to off Delaware.
References
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2012. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version, (08/2012).
Nizinski, M.S. , Collette, B.B., and B.B. Washington. 1990. Separation of two species of sand lances, Ammodytes americanus and A. dubius, in the western north Atlantic. United States Fish and Wildlife Service Fishery Bulletin v. 88 (no. 2): 241-255.
Other Notes
Some meristic values are higher in the northern parts of the range than in the south. Lateral plicae, vertebrae, and dorsal finray counts are quite effective in separating A. dubius and A. americanus (Nizinski et al., 1990).
Ammodytes hexapterus, is listed on Fishbase (Froese, 2012) as living in the W. Atlantic but is only found in the North Pacific.