Smooth sandeel explained

The smooth sandeel (Gymnammodytes semisquamatus) is a species of sand eel in the family Ammodytidae.^{[1] [2]}

Description

It maximum length is, typical adults measuring . It has 53–56 dorsal soft rays and 26–31 anal soft rays. Its palate has no pointed teeth, its lateral line is branched, and only the posterior third of the body is scaly (hence the specific name semisquamatus, "half-scaled").^[3] It has 64–72 vertebrae and is golden brown or pink, with a silvery belly.^[4] It is also notable for its plectrum-shaped eye.^[5]

Distribution and habitat

It is a demersal fish living in the waters off Great Britain, Ireland and in the North Sea.^{[6] [7]} It made its first appearance in the Mediterranean Sea in 1990 off the Spanish coast, where there is now a stable population co-occurring with Gymnammodytes cicerelus.^[8]

Behaviour

The smooth sandeel spawns in summer.^[9] It feeds on the plankton.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Scientific Proceedings of the Royal Dublin Society: Series B.. Royal Dublin. Society. June 28, 1970. Royal Dublin Society.. Google Books.
2. Web site: Sand Lance : a Review of Biology and Predator Relations and Annotated Bibliography. Martin D.. Robards. Pacific Northwest Research Station (Portland. Or.). June 28, 1999. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Google Books.
3. Web site: Gymnammodytes semisquamatus, Smooth sandeel : fisheries, bait. www.fishbase.se.
4. Web site: Marine Species Identification Portal : Smooth sand-eel - Gymnammodytes semisquamatus. species-identification.org.
5. Book: Fish atlas of the Celtic Sea, North Sea, and Baltic Sea: Based on international research-vessel surveys. Henk J. L.. Heessen. Niels. Daan. Jim R.. Ellis. September 1, 2015. Wageningen Academic Publishers. 9789086868780. Google Books.
6. The Occurrence of the smooth sand-eel, Gymnammodytes Semisquamatus (Jourdain), in the Plymouth area, with notes on G. cicerelus (Rafinesque), and G. capensis (Barnard). P. G.. Corbin. April 28, 1950. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 29. 1. 83–89. Cambridge University Press. 10.1017/S0025315400056216. 52027588 .
7. Web site: WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species. www.marinespecies.org.
8. Atlas of Exotic Fishes in the Mediterranean Sea (Gymnammodytes semisquamatus). 2nd Edition. 2021. 366p. CIESM Publishers, Paris, Monaco.https://ciesm.org/atlas/fishes_2nd_edition/Gymnammodytes_semisquamatus.pdf
9. Web site: Collected Reprints. June 28, 1987. The Center. Google Books.