Description: This species of sand eel reaches up to 32 cm and has an elongated thin body with a forked tail. The jaw is pointed and there is a dark-coloured spot on each side of the snout. It has a single long dorsal fin, and single anal fin. The back of the fish is a blue-green to blue, and the sides and underside are silver, with an overall silvery appearance. Usually seen swimming in shoals or buried in the sand.

Habitat: Clean sandy substrate, down to around 150 m.

Distribution: Found all around Britain and Ireland where there is suitable habitat.

Similar Species: Especially easily confused with Hyperoplus immaculatus. Sand eels can be extremely difficult to tell apart, and often cannot be distinguished in the field. Anything under 25 cm is likely one of the lesser sand eel species, while anything over 25 cm will be one of the greater sand eel species.

Key Identification Features:

• Sand eel that reaches up to 32 cm.
• Dark coloured spot on each side of snout.
• Forked tail.

Distribution Map from NBN: Hyperoplus lanceolatus at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Hyperoplus lanceolatus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Hyperoplus lanceolatus

WoRMS: Hyperoplus lanceolatus at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Hyperoplus lanceolatus (Le Sauvage, 1824). AphiaID: 126756.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Chordata; Vertebrata; Gnathostomata; Osteichthyes; Actinopterygii; Actinopteri; Teleostei; Perciformes; Uranoscopoidei; Ammodytidae; Hyperoplus