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UNDERWATER GUIDE TO MARINE LIFE 



Fig. 705. Threadfin. 



Fig. 106. Sand launce. 



THREADFINS: Family Polynemidae 



threadfin: Polynemus octonernns 



Size: Up to 1 foot. 



Distribution: West Indies and the Florida Keys. To the Gulf of Mexico, 

 straggling to Cape Cod. 



Identification: The color is yellowish white, olivaceous above. 



Habits: This is a fish of shallow, sandy shores. It travels solitarily or in small 

 groups and is carnivorous, feeding on all sorts of small animals. The threadlike 

 fins are probably tactile in function. 



Sand Launces: Suborder Ammodytoidei 



There is one family of these very odd fishes. They dive like lances into the 

 surf sand of shallow shores, and this habit has given them their name. The shape 

 itself should be enough to identify them. The skin has many curious cross 

 folds, and the scales are very reduced. These are fishes of the North Atlantic 

 and North Pacific. 



SAND LAUNCES: Family Ammodytidae 



SAND LAUNCE: Ammodytes americaniis 



Size: Lip to 6 inches. 



Distribution: Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras. 

 Identification: Same as for the family. 



Habits: These fishes travel in huge schools near the shore, particularly in the 

 north. They dive in and out of sand with great facility and often remain there 



