sand lance

American  

Or sand launce

noun

1. any slender marine fish of the family Ammodytidae that burrows into the sand.

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sand lance British  

noun

1. another name for the sand eel

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Etymology

Origin of sand lance

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

Humpbacks are not aggressive, and Mayo thinks it was an accidental encounter while the whale was feeding on fish, probably sand lance.

From Washington Post • Jun. 11, 2021

A healthy beach hops with bugs on soft sand, essential spawning ground for sand lance and surf smelt.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 29, 2019

On a remote island in the northern gulf, where scientists have tracked seabird diets for decades, they noticed that capelin and sand lance, staples for many bird species, nearly vanished from the birds' meals.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 31, 2019

Forage fish such as herring and sand lance - key food sources for salmon, birds and other marine animals - are in decline.

From Washington Times • Jul. 31, 2016

They also found that even though individuals were learning from each other, they were also performing the behaviour more when a particular fish, the sand lance, were abundant.

From Scientific American • Apr. 28, 2013