echinoids text index | photo index
Phylum Echinodermata > Class Echinodea > Order Clypeasteroida
Keyhole sand dollar
Echinodiscus sp.
Family Astriclypeidae

updated Mar 2020

Where seen? This large sand dollars with slots is sometimes seen sandy areas near seagrasses on Chek Jawa and Changi. It is not found in large groups like the Cake sand dollar, usually alone. It was previously known as Echinodiscus bisperforatus.

Features:
Body diameter 8-10cm, somewhat polygonal, with a pair of slots perpendicular to the edge. The flower-like petalloid is obvious even in living specimens. Usually maroon-purple, sometimes yellowish brown.

What is the purpose of the slots? The Keyhole sand dollar got its common name from the intriguing slot-shaped holes in the body (called lunules). Suggestions for the function of these slots range from helping the animal to burrow, right itself, find food or to prevent the waves from lifting it out of the sand. The last is the most widely accepted explanation.

Upperside of living sand dollar
Chek Jawa, Jul 08

Petalloid.

Underside
Dead or alive? Sand dollars may appear dead, but they are very much alive. A living sand dollar is covered with fine spines and appears velvety. The skeleton (test) of a dead one is smooth, without any spines, and the details of skeleton can be seen more clearly. The skeleton is fragile and will shatter at the slightest pressure.

Upperside of test.
Chek Jawa, Nov 03

Upperside of test.

Underside of rest
Status and threats: The Keyhole sand dollar is listed as 'Vulnerable' in the Red List of threatened animals of Singapore. An uncommon species restricted to very few sites mainly in the Pulau Ubin-Pulau Tekong area, it is threatened by habitat loss due to coastal development.

Keyhole sand dollars on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Test of dead keyhole sand dollar.
Tanah Merah, Feb 09

East Coast Park, Jun 08
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.

Changi East, Dec 12
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.


Lazarus Island, Nov 22

Photo shared by Richard Kuah on facebook.

Links
  • The Echinoid Directory by Dr. Andrew B. Smith on the London Natural History Museum website: everything you could possibly want to know about sand dollars and sea urchins with lots of large close-up images and explanatory diagrams. With descriptions of Echinodiscus.
  • Echinodiscus bisperforatus on SeaLife Base: Technical fact sheet.

References

  • Lane, David J.W. and Didier Vandenspiegel. 2003. A Guide to Sea Stars and Other Echinoderms of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre. 187pp.
  • Davison, G.W. H. and P. K. L. Ng and Ho Hua Chew, 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book: Threatened plants and animals of Singapore. Nature Society (Singapore). 285 pp.
links | references | about | email Ria
Spot errors? Have a question? Want to share your sightings? email Ria I'll be glad to hear from you!
wildfactsheets website©ria tan 2008