Sand+Dollars

The Common S ﻿ and Dollars


 * Common Name:** Sand Dollars
 * Scientific Name:** //Dendraster excentricus//
 * Phyla:** Echinodermata
 * Class:** Echinoidea
 * Location:** Basically on or in any sandy locations.
 * Size:** They can grow up to 3 inches in diameter.
 * Description of Habitat:** Sand dollars live beyond mean low water on top of or just beneath the surface of sandy or muddy areas.
 * Living Requirements:** The spines on the somewhat flattened underside of the animal allow it to burrow or to slowly creep through the sand. Fine, hair-like cilia cover the tiny spines. These cilia, in combination with a mucous coating, move food to the mouth opening which is in the center of the star shaped grooves on the underside of the animal. Its food consists of plankters and organic particles that end up in the sandy bottom.
 * Life Cycle of Animal:** Sand dollars usually live six to 10 years.
 * Interesting Fact:**
 * Like its close relative the sea urchin, the sand dollar has five sets of pores arranged petal pattern. The pores are used to move sea water into its internal water-vascular system which allows for movement.
 * The sand dollar’s mouth has a jaw with five teethlike sections to grind up tiny plants and animals. Sometimes a sand dollar “chews” its food for fifteen minutes before swallowing. It can take two days for the food to digest.
 * Scientists can age a sand dollar by counting the growth rings on the plates of the exoskeleton.
 * Human Impact:** Sometimes we often kill sand dollars when we bring them from the beach to our home. When the sand dollars still have color to them, we should just leave them be and instead find another that has been completely dried out or whiten-out.


 * Zookeeper:** James K. Kanthachack

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