Have you ever seen, or heard of, sand dollars? They’re interesting, immobile creatures that you can sometimes spot on beaches. If you’ve ever encountered one, then you probably are familiar with the whitish, or perhaps greenish, colored ones, which are decorated with a pattern on the top that looks quite like a leaf. Well, what if I told you that those sand dollars are actually the dead ones?
Sea Something, an educational YouTube channel, explains the difference between living and dead sea dollars in this fascinating video. She clearly illustrates how live sea dollars are actually a dark purplish black color, with bristles along their bottoms that move around to help them move and eat. This is a big contrast to the husk-like appearance of the dead ones that you usually find!
Take a look at this video!
So if you want to bring a sand dollar home from the beach as a souvenir, remember not to take any that are alive! Instead, opt for the whitish, greenish ones. Don’t forget to refer to the beach combing rules for the site you’re on first, too!
Do share this captivating fact on nature with your friends!