Clypeaster australasiae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Clypeaster australasiae | |
|---|---|
_(AM_MA76003).jpg) | |
| Preserved specimen | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Echinoidea |
| Order: | Clypeasteroida |
| Family: | Clypeasteridae |
| Genus: | Clypeaster |
| Species: | C. australasiae |
| Binomial name | |
| Clypeaster australasiae (Gray, 1851) | |
Clypeaster australasiae, the Australasian sand dollar, is a species of sea urchins of the family Clypeasteridae. Their armour is covered with spines. Clypeaster australasiae was first scientifically described in 1851 by Gray.[1][2]
Habitat
Silt, sand and reef to 130m depth. The animals can be abundant in some areas, but are not often seen as they usually bury themselves in the sediment and prefer deeper water.[2]