Ammodytes Ammodytoides Bleekeria Gymnammodytes Hyperoplus Lepidammodytes Protammodytes A sand lance or sandlance is a ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ammodytidae.

These fish do not have pelvic fins and do not develop swim bladders, staying true to their bottom-dwelling habit as adults.

As adults, sand lances are harvested commercially in some areas (primarily in Europe), leading to direct human competition with diving birds such as puffins, auks, terns, and cormorants.

Other species are deep-water dwellers, some of which have only recently been described to science, and most of which lack common names.

Sand lances have chameleon-like independent eye movements and special focusing lenses.