Do You Know What The Sand Dollar Is?
On the beaches of the Pacific there are circles that appear to be made of clay with a kind of sculpted flower that covers practically the entire center. Years ago, the natives began to paint and sell them using them as a livelihood. We are talking about the sand dollar.
These strange circles have not fallen from space as many believed in the beginning, but they are nothing more than the skeleton of something very special: the sand dollar. Do you want to know what and how they are? Read this article on the sand dollar.
What is the sand dollar?
Although it seems hard to believe, this animal is considered a sea urchin, despite its shape being totally round. Others believe it is a starfish. Various sources claim both, so it appears that no common agreement has been found at the moment.
However, what interests us is to know what they are like, where they come from and what they do. As we said, the shape of the sand dollar is round and about the size of the palm of a hand. There are also smaller ones and even a little bit bigger.
Its shell, or its skeleton, is covered with small spikes that look like hair and that follow the movements of its body. Its movements are circular and can go forward, backward or sideways.
It is common to see them in the sand even though they are aquatic animals, and for this reason they are called the “sand dollar”. The tips help them move and many argue that the design of smart vacuum robots is inspired by the observation of this animal.
The sand dollar has five rows of pores in the form of petals that it uses to breathe. They are believed to have existed for millions of years, as fossils have been found dating back over 422 million years.
The skeleton
Anyone who first sees the skeleton of a sand dollar cannot believe the perfection of its shape, along with the beauty of the flower that appears to be carved on its top layer. Well, such a thing can only be the work of nature.
It is as if someone had modeled it, as if someone had taken the time to draw it, to sculpt it: it is a real marvel.
It was precisely for this flower that many have called it a starfish, as it has five points like a star. It also has four oval and thin holes and its color is whitish beige, although the more time passes, the more it becomes white and its flower is slowly disappearing.
A very interesting curiosity about this species is that despite having lived underwater, surviving predators, having the ability to “walk” through the sand, it is very fragile.
In fact, many sand dollars are often seen breaking on Pacific beaches. But if you are lucky enough to find one intact and it falls into it, even if on the sand, it will break into a thousand pieces.
It is not surprising that the natives use them as pendants and ornaments after having painted them with colors, because their beauty is indescribable.
The sand dollar is capable of cloning itself
About a decade ago, scientists discovered something impressive about this animal. He seems to have the ability to clone himself, even if it only happens when he feels in danger.
Yes, if a sand dollar feels attacked, it produces a small larva exactly identical to itself, with the advantage that it goes unnoticed by the predator. In this way, it can catch its attacker off guard or make the larva the prey. Who can deny the wisdom of this strategy, whatever it is?
Without a doubt, the sand dollar is an incredible animal worth knowing, don’t you agree? We are sure you are already looking forward to traveling to some Pacific island to see some.
