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© 1998 Dr. Richard Paselk, Humboldt State University Natural History Museum
© 2004 UCMP
© 2003 Roger Portell, Florida Museum of Natural History
What are Echinoids? Sand dollars, sea urchins, and heart urchins make up the group of echinoderms called echinoids. They have a rigid, round, oval, or heart-shaped skeleton, called a test, that is composed of tightly interlocking plates of calcium carbonate. Living echinoids are covered with spines, although the spines on sand dollars are short, giving the animal almost a furry appearance. Sea urchin spines are usually long and prominent, and in some species may contain toxins for defense. The spines usually fall off soon after death, thus fossil urchins commonly are found without spines attached.
First known fossil occurrence: Ordovician.
Last known fossil occurrence: Quaternary. This group has living relatives.
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