Sand Dollars
CLASS ECHINOIDEA
SPECIES OF Sand Dollars
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ANATOMY OF Sand Dollars
OVERVIEW
Sand dollars are the less spiky cousins of sea urchins! Both groups belong to the same class Echinoidea, which means “spiny” in Greek.
DOLLAR COINS AND SEA HEDGEHOGS!
Sand dollars are flat, round and look like coins. Their spines are much shorter and softer than the long and sharp spines of their sea urchin cousins. In fact, the word “urchin” is actually derived from the Latin word for “hedgehog”!
TEST OF RESILIENCE!
Sometimes, you might also see round, flat, coin-like discs on our shores. These are sand dollar skeletons, also known as their test! They feel smooth to the touch because their spines have fallen off upon death.
MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SPINES!
Although sand dollar spines do not look very intimidating, they are still effective at protecting the animal from predators! Besides self-defence, sand dollars also use their spines as tiny feet to move around, or as little spades for burrowing into the sand.