Fossil Sand Dollar – Heliophora orbiculus

Sand dollars are flat, round marine animals related to sea urchins, sea stars, and other echinoderms. A sand dollar has a rigid skeleton known as a “test”, and the word sand dollar is also used for the test when it is found washed up on the beach after the death of the animal.

Like its close relative the sea urchin, the sand dollar has a set of five pore arranged in a petal-like pattern. These pores are used to move sea water into internal water-vascular system, which is what allows the creature to move.

Evolution also carries modern sand dollars!

Individual shapes and fossils vary but your item will resemble the pictured example.