Sand Dollar

Sand Dollar

 

Common Names: Pacific Sand Dollar, Common Sand Dollar.

 

Description: Size and Shape - Usually about 3 inches in diameter and 3/8 of an inch thick. They're shaped like a big coin.

Skeleton - Endoskeleton

Symmetry - Bilateral symmetry

Features - They have prickly skin. The anus is on top of the sand dollar and the mouth is on the bottom.

 

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Echinodermata

Class: Echinoidea

Order: Clypeasteroidea

Family: Dendrasteidae

Genus: Dendraster

Species: Excentricus

 

Ecology: Relationship to other organisms - They feed on plankton, crab larvae, and amphipods.

Interesting Features - Sand Dollars jaws have five teethlike sections to grind up plants and animals. It can take up to two days for the food to digest. They can live 6-10 years. Also, California Sheepheads, Starry Flounders and large Pink Sea Stars prey on Sand Dollars.