The Genus Ammodytes, also known as the lesser sandeel or sand lance, is a group of fishes found in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Synonyms for this genus include Ammodytes americanus, Ammodytes tridactylus, and A. marinus. These fishes are an important prey species for many marine mammals, seabirds, and commercial fish species. Sand lances have a distinctive long, narrow body shape and can move quickly through the sand, making them difficult to catch. Despite their importance in marine ecosystems, sand lances are also subject to overfishing and habitat destruction, which threatens their populations and the animals that depend on them.