| Greater sand eel | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Ammodytidae |
| Genus: | Hyperoplus |
| Species: | H. lanceolatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Hyperoplus lanceolatus |
|
The greater sand eel (scientific name Hyperoplus lanceolatus) or launce is the greater species of sand eel. [1] The maximum sixe is 35 cm. Common sand eel have an elongated body, with a rounded cross section. It has a long pointed head, and a protruding lower jaw. [1] Its upper jaw, however is not entirely protrusible, this thus makes it unable to form a tube. A monocle "toooth-shaped" structure can be found at the front of the palate. The scales on the body can not form a chrevon pattern.[1] The skin ridge running the lengths of the sides of the body, spread as far as ⅓ of the base of the anal fin. Low and Long set dorsal fins, consist of between 52 to 61 rays.[1] The anal fin is about half te size of the dorsal fin, and more thick in height.[1] The pectoral fins are diminutive, with absent pelvic fins.[1] Color ranges from a lime color on the back and upper sides to the bright silver on the lower sides and the belly. There's also a specific black smudge between the eyes and the snout, which is about the same size as the diameter of the eye.[1]
Breeding occurs through between March into August.[1]
It is to be found from the lower water mark down to over 100 m, typically over clean and sandy substances.[1]
It feeds on plankton, fish larvae, and a vast range of crustaceans.[1]
It ranges all over the British Isles.[1]
Corbin's sand-eel is very similar to the greater sand eel, by the way that it lacks a protrusible upper jaw and its similar size.[1] Although, it can be distinguished by the lack of the black spot on the snout, but it does have a black chin.[1] Its dorsal fins has 59 to 62 rays. The overall color is darker than the other sand-eels,[1] is found offshore, and tends to lie more on the western side of the U.K.[1]