Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus) fish species and information / pictures of Pacific sand lance - Ammodytes hexapterus

Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Ammodytes hexapterus

Common Name
Pacific sand lance

Biology
May occur in large schools near the surface both inshore and offshore, but also buries itself in sand (Ref. 2850). Inshore, found from intertidal to subtidal areas (Ref. 2850). Offshore, found near the surface over deep water (Ref. 2850). Benthic (Ref. 58426). Juveniles and adults feed on zooplankton (Ref. 28499). Utilized dried or salted and frozen; sometimes targeted as a raw material for fishmeal; eaten fried (Ref. 9988).

Classification

Classified By
Pallas, 1814
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Perch-like fish (Perciformes)
Family
Sand lances (Ammodytidae)

Distribution

Region
Arctic, Northwest to Northeast Pacific
Distribution
Arctic, Northwest to Northeast Pacific: Arctic Alaska to the Sea of Japan and Balboa Island, southern California, USA. Western Atlantic: northern Quebec, Canada to North Carolina, USA. The Arctic and Pacific populations may be a separate species, distinct from the Atlantic populations (Ref. 7251).
Range
63°N - 32°N, 145°E - 21°W

Environment

Climate
Temperate
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
0 m
Depth To - meters
275 m
Zone
benthopelagic
Environment
Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 275 m (Ref. 58426), usually 30 - 100 m (Ref. 56557)
Trophic Level
3.11418 s.e. 0.32 Based on diet studies.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
True
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
30.0 cm
Common Length
17.0 cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5156 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Vulnerability
Low to moderate vulnerability (31 of 100)
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2-3)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Not Evaluated