Eccentric Sand Dollar
ExploreInvertebrate
Eccentric Sand Dollar
dendraster excentricus
The Eccentric Sand Dollar has a unique star-shaped pattern on its shell that looks like a beautiful design! Kids love to find these treasures on the beach and learn about the ocean's secrets!
Habitat: Sandy ocean floors along the Pacific Coast
Appearance
The Eccentric Sand Dollar is a flattened, disc-shaped echinoderm, typically grey to purple-brown. Its distinctive five-petal flower pattern is located off-center, making it visually unique among other sand dollar species.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumEchinodermataClassEchinoideaOrderEchinolampadaceaFamilyDendrasteridaeGenusDendraster
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
A sand dollar's hard skeleton is called a 'test' – like a tiny suit of armor!
Sometimes, their 'flower' pattern looks like a dove when held to the light!
They can gather up to 60,000 tiny grains of sand to help them stay anchored!
They use microscopic hairs called cilia to move collected food towards their mouth!
Special abilities
Ability
Quick Burrower
Eccentric Sand Dollar can quickly burrow into the sand using its short spines and tube feet, which helps them hide from predators.
Ability
Food Collector
Eccentric Sand Dollar has tiny hairs called cilia on its spines that help them collect small food particles from the water column.
Ability
Self-Righting
Eccentric Sand Dollar can use its spines and tube feet to flip itself over quickly if it gets overturned by ocean currents.
Measurements & details
- Average Diameter
- 7.5 cm
- Lifespan
- 10 years
- Average Thickness
- 1 cm
Diet & Feeding
These marine invertebrates filter tiny bits of food from the water and sand to eat.
Age differences: null
Primary Foods
- diatoms
- algae
- detritus
- larval invertebrates
Foraging Method
- Filter Feeding
Ecological connections
eaten by
Sunflower Sea Star
Pycnopodia helianthoides
A major predator of adult sand dollars in the Pacific Ocean.
eaten by
Dungeness Crab
Cancer magister
Crabs can crush their hard 'tests' to consume the soft tissue inside.
eaten by
Northern Anchovy
Engraulis mordax
Larval sand dollars are a common food source for small plankton-eating fish.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Filter Feeder
Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water.
Coastal
Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Also known as
DendrasterSea Cookie
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Eccentric Sand Dollar?
7.5 cm
How long does Eccentric Sand Dollar live?
10 years
What does Eccentric Sand Dollar eat?
These marine invertebrates filter tiny bits of food from the water and sand to eat.
Where is Eccentric Sand Dollar usually found?
Sandy ocean floors along the Pacific Coast
How does Eccentric Sand Dollar hunt?
Filter Feeding
What is the average Thickness of Eccentric Sand Dollar?
1 cm
Snap Map
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