Fish
Lesser Sand Eel
Ammodytes tobianus
Over a sandy bank in summer, a shoal of lesser sand eels flickers silver, ready to dive into the sand the moment a predator appears.
Overview
The lesser sand eel, Ammodytes tobianus, is a Least Concern burrowing fish of sandy shallows around northern Europe. Its shoaling, its sand-diving, and its role as prey for seabirds and larger fish make it one of the most important small fish of coastal seas.
A small fish with a huge job
Because so many predators depend on it, a poor year for sand eels can mean a failed breeding season for seabirds such as puffins and terns.
Status
Least Concern, though its numbers vary from year to year.
Lesser Sand Eel: common questions
Is a sand eel really an eel?
No, despite its name it is a slim, silvery fish with a pointed snout, a forked tail, and a long dorsal fin, not a true eel.
How does the sand eel hide?
It dives into clean sand to hide from predators and to rest.
Why are sand eels important?
They are eaten by puffins, terns, seals, cod, bass, and many other predators, so their numbers affect those of seabirds and fish.
Where is the lesser sand eel found?
It lives on sandy bottoms in shallow coastal water of the north-eastern Atlantic, the North Sea, and the Baltic.