Sand Dollar, detail [Filler #44] by rhoing

Sand Dollar, detail [Filler #44]

Or “Dendraster excentricus.” This is from our visit to Greg & Suzanne's yesterday.

From http://www.sanibelseaschool.org/experience-blog/2015/11/5/sand-dollars-dead-or-alive
» “We often find sand dollars on our beaches, and their beautiful skeletons make a great souvenir, but it’s illegal to collect them when they are alive. Live sand dollars play an important role in our local ecosystem by controlling populations of smaller invertebrates and serving as food for some larger organisms, including nine-armed sea stars.

“[S]and dollars are members of the Phylum Echinodermata, meaning “spiny skin”. As the name implies, they have tiny spines all over their bodies that resemble hair. These spines help the animal move along the ocean floor and bury itself in the sand.”

From https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animal-guide/invertebrates/sand-dollar
» “In quiet waters, these flattened animals stand on end, partially buried in the sand. When waters are rough, sand dollars hold their ground by lying flat—or burrowing under. In fast-moving waters, adults also fight the currents by growing heavier skeletons. Young sand dollars swallow heavy sand grains to weigh themselves down.

“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. Sand dollars usually live six to 10 years.

“California sheepheads, starry flounders and large pink sea stars prey on sand dollars. When threatened by pink sea stars, sand dollars bury themselves under the sand. Observers have seen a pink sea star leave a wide path of buried sand dollars as it moves across a sand dollar bed.”

1 year ago (“My supervisor”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2016-06-14
2 years ago (“Orange ‘cap’”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2015-06-14
3 years ago (“Purple Crownvetch”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2014-06-14
4 years ago (“Native to Australia…”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-06-14
5 years ago (“Great Spangled Fritillary”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-06-14
6 years ago (“‘Rose bokeh’?”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-06-14

[ IMG_6406S12x9RGtm :: f/2.8 :: 1/100 :: ISO-1600 :: 55mm ]
These truly are exquisite. I like it in black and white.
August 1st, 2017  
Beautiful capture. I love sanddollars.
August 1st, 2017  
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