Lesser sand eel

Taxobox
name = Lesser sand eel


image_width = 240px
image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Ammodytidae
genus = "Ammodytes"
species = "A. tobianus"
binomial = "Ammodytes tobianus"

The lesser sand eel "or" sand lance, "Ammodytes tobianus", is a fish, which may be up to 20 cm long.cite web|url=http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aquarium/pages/lessersandeel.html|title=Lesser Sandeel|accessdate=2006-12-01|] . Its body has an elongaed shape with a rounded cross section. The head is also elongated and pointed, and it contains a sharp prominent lower jaw. The upper jaw overlaps, and can open forward to form a tube. The top of the fish's mouth lacks teeth. The scales of the belly make a hevron pattern. Moreover, the pectoral fins are small and low set, though pelvic fins are lacking. Its caudal fin is bifurcated in shape. The skin color can be pictured as greenish yellow on the back, to yellow on the upper sides, and a mixture of a brilliant silver on the lower sides and belly.

Breeding, can vary to which race they are native, and usually happens from February to April, or from September through into November. Adult forms become mature in 1 to 2 years (8cm+), and will live 7 years or more. It habitates from mid-tide level below to around 30m in inshore waters, that have clean and sandy bottoms. It is commonly found swimming in huge shoals that rapidly burrows in sand if alarmed.

It eats on planktonic species of fish, crustaceans, and other smaller invertebrates. In addition, it is found all throughout the coasts of the British Isles.

'Raitt's sand eel is scientifically known as "Ammodytes marinus". It contains likenesses to the lesser sand eel. Its dinstinguished by the fact of that belly scales are found to be irregularly formed; and having no scales on the lobes of the tail. Furthermore, the dorsal fin is made of at least 56 to 63 rays, with an overall maximum lengyh, non-exceeding the 25cm. The fish color can range to turqoise of the back, to the silvery sides and belly.

This is an offshore sandeel species that breeds from November through into February, and can survive up to 9 years. It craves on small worms, small crustaceans and plankton, including fish eggs and larvae.

Other facts

* They are either male or female. cite web|url=http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/ComNames/CommonNameSummary.cfm?autoctr=41357|title=Sand-eel # 2 rated in Ireland|accessdate=2006-12-01|]
* They are divided into juveniles and adults.
* It has no official trade name.
* The core is primary lexeme.
* It is Vernacular.

References

Bibiography

* [http://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/seabirds_04.htm] "The 2004 breeding season will go down as the worst in living memory for Fair Isle’s seabirds (Table 2). Numbers of birds attempting to breed were at their lowest levels for many species (Table 1) and very few chicks were seen. Common Guillemot, Razorbill, Black-legged Kittiwake, Arctic Skua, Arctic Tern and Common Tern all failed to fledge any young whilst just a single Great Skua fledged from a pitiful 96 AOT (Apparently Occupied Territories). As in most years of poor productivity, it is a lack of Lesser Sandeel (the staple diet of nearly all seabirds in Shetland) that is at the root of the problem."
* Svenning, M.-A., Borgstrøm, R., Dehli, T.O., Moen, G., Pedersen, T., Barrett, R.T. & Vader, W. 2005. Large numbers of lesser sandeel (Ammodytes marinus) available as prey for marine fishes enhance the survival of Atlantic salmon smolts (Salmo salar) as they leave the Tana river, North Norway. - Fisheries Research 76: 466-474.
* [http://www.gafta.com/fin/FINsustain.pdf Fishmeal Production]