Spectacular Sand Dollars Brook and Brandi

Habitat for a Sand Dollar Beneath the surface of the water. Beneath the surface of the water. Sandy or muddy areas. Sandy or muddy areas. Burrow in the sand. Burrow in the sand. On the shores of oceans. On the shores of oceans.

Physical Characteristics They have tube feet They have tube feet They have spines. They have spines. They are disc shaped. They are disc shaped.

How their physical characteristics help They have tube feet to walk and help it eat because they have sticky feet to catch their food. They have tube feet to walk and help it eat because they have sticky feet to catch their food. They have spines to help them to move around and dig burrows. They have spines to help them to move around and dig burrows. They are disc shaped so they can camouflage into the sand. They are disc shaped so they can camouflage into the sand.

Behavioral Characteristics They live in shallow water. They live in shallow water. They pump water through their bodies to move. They pump water through their bodies to move.

How their behavioral characteristics help They live in shallow water to burrow. They live in shallow water to burrow. It pumps water through its body to move away from predators. It pumps water through its body to move away from predators.

Inherited Traits It can inherit its parent’s shell pattern. It can inherit its parent’s shell pattern. It can inherit its parent’s color. It can inherit its parent’s color. How much it can eat. How much it can eat.

Environmental Conditions that influence Sand Dollars Sand dollars are used to water. If a sand dollar is out of water, it could die. Sand dollars are used to water. If a sand dollar is out of water, it could die. Sand dollars live on the ocean floor. It is easy to camouflage from enemies there. If they are in the middle of the water, sand dollars will be more vulnerable. Sand dollars live on the ocean floor. It is easy to camouflage from enemies there. If they are in the middle of the water, sand dollars will be more vulnerable. Sand dollars are used to a light environment. Sand dollars are used to a light environment.

A Sand Dollar’s acquired behavior They need to learn how to catch prey. They need to learn how to catch prey. They need to learn how to nurse their babies. They need to learn how to nurse their babies. They need to learn how to dig a burrow. They need to learn how to dig a burrow.

Did you know… When we are alive, we look like brown, fuzzy cookies. When we are alive, we look like brown, fuzzy cookies. We are about 3 inches wide. We are about 3 inches wide. We are ½ inches thick. We are ½ inches thick. Sand dollars were given their names because their flat skeletons look like large, round coins. Sand dollars were given their names because their flat skeletons look like large, round coins.

Did you know… Sand dollars have a star shaped pattern on the top of its skeleton. Sand dollars have a star shaped pattern on the top of its skeleton. We eat plankton and small organisms. We eat plankton and small organisms. They can be called sea pancakes if they are big and yellow. They are called sea biscuits if they are dark brown, and they can be called keyhole urchins because they have a key shaped hole in their skeleton. They can be called sea pancakes if they are big and yellow. They are called sea biscuits if they are dark brown, and they can be called keyhole urchins because they have a key shaped hole in their skeleton.

Acknowledgements Sea Stars, Sea Urchins, and Their Relatives. Beth Blaxland Sea Stars, Sea Urchins, and Their Relatives. Beth Blaxland Sea Stars and Other Echinoderms. World Book Inc Sea Stars and Other Echinoderms. World Book Inc Seashells, Crabs, and Sea Stars. Christiane Kump Tibbitts Seashells, Crabs, and Sea Stars. Christiane Kump Tibbitts. 1998