Sand Smelt (Atherine)
Atherina presbyter
Sand Smelt can be mistaken for small sardines due to their silvery appearance, darting about in quick, flashing groups. They feed on plankton and tiny crustaceans, sometimes gathering in large shoals near shore. Around Lihou, keep an eye on calmer corners of the sea or deeper pools where shimmering schools might suddenly scatter if they sense movement.
- Habitat: Small shoals in shallow coastal waters and occasionally in deeper rockpools.
- When to See: Most common in warmer months, traveling in shoals near shore.
- Length: 10β15 cm