Sand dollars are the smooth, flattened skeletal remains of a marine creature related to sea urchins and starfish. This delicate disc, often bearing a distinctive five-pointed star pattern, is the animal’s “test” or exoskeleton, composed of calcium carbonate. Finding a perfect, intact specimen is a rewarding experience for beachcombers. The appeal of these finds lies in their intricate natural design and their transformation from a dark, living animal to a bleached-white souvenir.
Optimal Conditions and Timing for Searching
Timing your search significantly increases your chances of finding intact sand dollars. The most opportune time to look is during the lowest point of the tidal cycle, which exposes vast stretches of the intertidal zone normally covered by water. Checking a local tide chart is recommended, as the receding water line often reveals specimens that have been gently washed ashore and settled on the newly exposed sand.
Searching immediately following a major weather event is often highly productive. Rough waters and powerful waves dislodge and carry sand dollars from their offshore beds, depositing them near the high-tide line, sometimes in large numbers. These conditions bring previously inaccessible specimens closer to the shore, though the waves may also cause some breakage. Early morning searches are often better, as the wind and wave action are typically calmer, and the beach is less crowded, allowing you to spot undisturbed specimens.
Identifying High-Probability Locations
Focusing your search on specific geological features will yield better results. Sand dollars prefer calmer, shallower waters and are often found in protected areas like sheltered coves, bays, or near jetties and rock structures. These features naturally slow down wave action, allowing the delicate tests to settle without being constantly tumbled or pulverized by heavy surf.
Pay close attention to the wrack line, which is the high-tide debris line composed of seaweed, shells, and driftwood. Dead sand dollar tests frequently accumulate in this area, carried up by the highest reach of the tide. You can also carefully search sand bars and shallow, calm water just offshore, where sand dollars live buried slightly beneath the sediment. Beaches with high-energy, exposed coastlines are less likely to have intact specimens due to the constant pounding of large waves.
Distinguishing Live Sand Dollars and Ethical Collection
It is important to distinguish between a dead sand dollar, which is safe to collect, and a live specimen. A sand dollar safe to take home is the white or pale beige test, which is smooth and completely devoid of organic material. This is the sun-bleached skeleton left after the animal has died.
A live sand dollar is easily identified by its color and texture, which is typically dark brown, purple, or reddish, and covered in tiny, velvety spines. These hair-like cilia are used for movement and feeding; if you gently touch a live specimen, you may observe the spines moving. If the spines are present, or if the sand dollar is dark and half-buried in the wet sand or water, it is still alive and must be left undisturbed or gently placed back into the ocean.
Collecting live sand dollars is unethical because they play an important role as filter feeders in the marine ecosystem, and it is illegal in many jurisdictions. Before collecting, always check local regulations, as some areas restrict the number of dead tests you can collect. Responsible beachcombing ensures the preservation of the species.
Cleaning and Preserving Your Find
If a dead test is still gray or tan, it needs cleaning to achieve the classic white souvenir look. First, gently rinse the sand dollar under fresh water to remove loose sand and debris. Next, soak the test in a solution of one part household bleach to ten parts fresh water for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it reaches a uniform white color. Soaking for too long can make the test brittle.
After bleaching, rinse the sand dollar thoroughly and allow it to dry completely, preferably in the sun for several hours. Once dry, the test is extremely fragile. Preservation helps harden the calcium carbonate structure. This is accomplished by carefully painting both sides with a thin layer of a 50/50 mixture of white craft glue and water, or by using a clear acrylic spray sealant.