| Family: |
Ammodytidae (Sand lances) |
| Max. size: |
15 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 10.6 g; max. reported age: 3 years |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 172 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Northwest Pacific: inland Sea of Japan to Kyushu, Japan. Northeast Pacific: From southern California to the western Aleutian Islands (Ref. 114018), Alaska (Ref. 11366). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 55-59; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 28-32; Vertebrae: 62-67. Characterized by having a horizontal skin fold along its ventral contour, and the absence of pelvic fin and teeth. Lateral plicae 160 to 180. Lower jaw pointed. Lateral line system on head not continuous with that on the body. |
| Biology: |
Found in sand bottoms and may enter semi-enclosed sea areas (Ref. 11230). Forms large schools. Important food fish in Japan (marketed fresh or dried) and marketed fresh but mainly used for meal and oil manufacture in Europe (Ref. 10384). Common size taken from picture in Ref. 559. Maximum size estimated as 1.5 * common size. Two genetically different lineages were found in Japan Sea/East Sea, perhaps representing two different species (J.K. Kim, oral.comm, FishBoL2012, June 2012). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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