Sand Dollars on the Alabama Gulf Coast

Most people can't walk past sand dollars without picking them up, and those that do are likely to take them back home. By the time the creatures wash up on the beach, they are sun bleached, beautiful - and dead. A live specimen is dark and covered in tiny, mobile spines. Rub a finger across a live one and you will discover that they feel "fuzzy."

Sand dollars usually gather in large groups. During early fall I have seen them stacked a foot deep in sea swells on the Gulf Shores beaches.

Like its closest relative the sea urchin, it isn't a desirable food source for most predators because of it's tough outer shell and limited meat on the inside. Snails, starfish and a several species of fish will eat them if they get hungry enough.

Some parts of the world have seen a huge decrease in recent years in both numbers and average size because people take buckets full of live ones from the most popular beaches. Many who fill those buckets don't realize the difference between the live and the dead. Some beach towns have put up signs and distributed literature imploring beach visitors to leave the live ones in the sand.

The animals generally grow to about 3 inches in diameter and 3/8 inch thick. Those that wash up on the Alabama Gulf Coast beaches unbroken are considerably smaller than that because the larger ones get smashed into pieces before they reach our shoreline.

Large sets of spores on the back of the animal produce a 5-petal design, one of the most recognizable symbols of the sea. Rows of tiny tubular feet push up into the pores. These pores flush water through the animal to keep it oxygenated. On the underside, the animal's spines move food particles along grooved lines that lead to the central hole where the mouth is located. The animal also moves along the sand with the aid of these spines.

Most that wash up on the Alabama Gulf Coast are the "flat round" species.

Find photos of several different sand dollar species here:

Sand Dollar Types


How to Preserve

• Soak in fresh water.
• Drain and repeat until water is clear.
• Place into a solution of two cups of fresh water and one cup of bleach.
• Soak for 15 minutes.
• Rinse until bleach smell has disappeared.
• Allow them to air dry.
• Mix a solution of 1/2 freshwater and Elmer's glue.
• Brush that solution with a soft brush very gently over both sides.
• Now thay should be tough enough to handle and to use for jewelry or crafts.

There's a pretty little legend
That I would like to tell
Of the birth and death of Jesus
Found in this lowly shell.

If you examine closely,
You'll see that you find here
Four nail holes and a fifth one
Made by a Roman's spear.

On one side the Easter lily,
Its center is the star
That appeared unto the shepherds
And led them from afar.

The Christmas poinsettia,
Etched on the other side
Reminds us of His birthday,
Our happy Christmastide.

Now break the center open,
And here you will release
The five white doves awaiting
To spread Good will and peace.

This simple little symbol,
Christ left for you and me
To help us spread His Gospel
Through all eternity.

Author Unknown




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