Sand Dollars: Ocean Treasures Unveiled

They are marine invertebrates that belong to the order Clypeastroida. These creatures are closely related to sea urchins, starfish, and other echinoderms. They are typically found on the ocean floor in shallow waters, often in sandy or muddy environments.

Sand dollars have a distinctive flat, round shape and are known for their hard, rigid skeletons, called tests, which are often found washed up on beaches. These tests are usually white or pale in color due to sun bleaching, though living sand dollars can be darker shades like purple or green, covered with tiny, velvety spines.

These creatures feed on small particles in the sand, which they sift through their spines and tiny tube feet. Sand dollars play a valuable role in their ecosystems, contributing to the ocean floor's health by recycling nutrients. They have a fascinating life cycle and are known for their unique, radial pattern that resembles a flower on their skeletons.

There is no direct biological or ecological connection between sand dollars and India, as sand dollars are primarily found in ocean waters along the coasts of the Americas, particularly in the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They are not native to Indian coastal waters.