Species · GBIF taxon 2279044
Six-holed Keyhole Urchin
Leodia sexiesperforataAlso known as Six-keyhole Sand Dollar, Six-holed Sand Dollar
Six-holed keyhole urchins are highly specialized sand dollars characterized by six distinct, elongated slots that help them resist lift from wave action. They live just beneath the surface of clean, tropical sands, using thousands of tiny, hair-like spines to creep through the sediment and channel microscopic food toward their central mouth. When exposed by shifting currents, they quickly rebury themselves using coordinated movements of their specialized spines.
MarineBurrowingInvertebrate
- diet
- Organic detritus, diatoms, and microscopic algae filtered from sand
- family
- Mellitidae
- threats
- Habitat degradation, coastal development, and water pollution
- life Span
- Up to 10 years
NE
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Vulnerable to over-collection by beachgoers who mistake live individuals for empty shells.
Leave live individuals in the water; only collect completely bare, white skeletons found washed up.- Look for tracks: Search for shallow, winding trails in clean, fine sand during low tide or in shallow water.
- Handle with care: If lifting a live specimen, keep it submerged in water and return it gently to the sand.
- Check for life: Live individuals are covered in tiny, moving spines; do not collect them as souvenirs.