This weekend at the STAO conference in Toronto Tracey is giving away beautifully painted sand dollar souvenirs. We find the empty tests (or shells) of the sand dollars (Echinarachnius parma) at low tide on local sandy/muddy beaches. Here are some interesting points about sand dollars.
Facts:
· When alive they have a velvet-like covering of fine spines that are purplish brown.
· To feed they shuffle through the sand, in search of diatoms (microscopic single cell plants) and detritus (bits of decomposing matter).
· The small opening on the side is the anus; the opening on the bottom is the mouth.
· Live specimens can leave a green stain on your hands.
Upside down (you can see the fine spines along the edges)
Sand dollar test
