[2] The body of the lesser sand eel has an elongated shape with a rounded cross section.

[3] Breeding, can vary to which race they are native, and usually happens from February to April, or from September through into November.

It is commonly found swimming in huge shoals and rapidly burrows in sand if alarmed.

[2] It is nocturnal, spending the day buried in the sand and emerging at dusk to feed.

Excessive fishing of sand eels on an industrial scale in the North Sea has been linked to a decline in the breeding success of kittiwakes, terns, fulmars and shags.