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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Sand dollars live on sandy or muddy flat areas of the ocean floor in shallow water near land. 1) Live sand dollars are members of the Phylum Echinodermata, meaning “spiny skin”. Sand dollars are sea-dwelling echinoderms that are related to sea urchins and starfish. The best places on the beaches are of course the shallows, specifically at low tide, and after a storm. Mature sand dollars have few predators and can live up to ten years. Where you specifically want to go are the two best beaches on Sanibel Island for sand dollar hunting, and that is Bowman’s Beach and Tarpon Bay Beach. Dr James Holloway has been writing about games, geek culture and whisky since 1995. I find the best beaches on Anna Maria Island for sand dollars is Bean Point. This is a natural and harmless secretion that indicates that the sand dollar is still breathing and is very much alive. Find out when low tide is, walk north of the public beach about 15 minutes to the sand bars and wade out. There are five sets of tube feet that extend from these petals, which the sand dollar uses for respiration. When a sand dollar passes away it might wash up onto the shore and become bleached white by the sun. Keep searching and you just might find that lucky sand dollar! With some good detective work you can find them on Bradenton Beach, Coquina Beach or Anna Maria City Beach and everywhere between. You can check their official website for additional details. Perform the Shell Shuffle. If you reach down to grab a sand dollar and startle a stingray, it might lash out with its barbed tail. To find sand dollars, shuffle your feet in shallow water to see if one is just underneath the sand. Don't collect living sand dollars. The water clouds at first, keep adding fresh water until it runs clear. This is an especially good tactic to use on a crowded beach, as most people will overlook piles of seaweed when searching for shells. If the water starts to get murky, you are moving your feet too fast. Pick up trash as you go along shelling. You might stir up various types of sea life, such as crabs, while you shuffle your feet. Sand dollars are some of the most interesting collectibles you can come back home with after a visit to the beach. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. To learn how to preserve your sand dollars, keep reading! They like to hide under the sand and don’t always make it to shore. A live sand dollar’s spines are covered with small hairs called “cilla.” By moving the cilla and spines, sand dollars are able to move across the sea beds in … Where you specifically want to go are the two best beaches on Sanibel Island for sand dollar hunting, and that is Bowman’s Beach and Tarpon Bay Beach. 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