Dendraster Excentricus (Pacific Sand Dollar)

Description:

• May be brown, black, or purple in color.
• The size varies from 76 mm to 120 mm wide.
• Endoskeleton
• Spiny tube-like feet with cilia.

Taxonomy:

• Animalia
• Echinodermata
• Echinoidea
• Clypeasteroida
• Dendrasteridae
• Dendraster
• D. Excentricus

Ecology/ Features:

• Found living along the Pacific Ocean.
• Can live at a depth of 40 to 90 metres.
• Feed on larvae, copepods, diatoms, plankton, and detritus.
• Usually found in intertidial zone.
• Motion as a result of moving their spines.
• Coelom connects to tube feet.