Eccentric Sand Dollar
Dendraster excentricus
Description: 3" (76 mm) wide, 1/4" (6 mm) high. Disk-shaped. Light lavender-gray, brown, reddish-brown, or dark purple-black. Test almost circular, flattened, 5 petal-shaped loops of tube feet on upper dorsal surface; both surfaces covered by short, fine spines. Mouth central on lower surface, anus at rear margin.
Habitat: On sand bottoms of sheltered bays and open coasts; from low-tide line to water 130' (40 m) deep.
Range: Alaska to Baja California.
Discussion: The sand dollar most familiar to beachcombers is the dead, clean test of this species found along sandy shores. The five petal-shaped areas on the upper surface are the slits from which the respiratory tube feet emerge.
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