Species · GBIF taxon 5188174
Sea Biscuit
Clypeaster rosaceusAlso known as Fat Sea Biscuit, Brown Sea Biscuit, Inflated Sea Biscuit
These plump, dome-shaped echinoderms glide slowly over sandy seafloors and seagrass meadows, using thousands of tiny, fur-like spines to move and shovel food. Their thick, reddish-brown bodies feature a distinct five-petaled pattern on the upper surface, which houses the respiratory tube feet. Often found half-buried, they play a vital role in aerating marine sediments as they sift through sand for organic debris.
MarineInvertebrateBenthic
Licensed referenceJames St. John / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
- diet
- Organic detritus, algae, and microscopic organisms scraped from sand grains
- family
- Clypeasteridae
- threats
- Habitat degradation, coastal development, and collection for the souvenir trade
- life Span
- Up to 10 years
NE
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Look for movement: Watch the tiny, hair-like spines on the underside to see how they slowly glide across the sand.
- Handle with care: If lifting a live specimen, keep it submerged in water and return it gently to its exact spot.
- Check for life: Live sea biscuits are covered in a felt-like coating of short brownish spines; white, bare tests are dead.