''Clypeaster australasiae'', the Australasian sand dollar, is a species of

sea urchin Sea urchins () are spiny, globular echinoderms in the class Echinoidea. About 950 species of sea urchin live on the seabed of every ocean and inhabit every depth zone from the intertidal seashore down to . The spherical, hard shells (tests) of ...

s of the

Family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Clypeasteridae Clypeasteridae is a family of sea urchins in the order Clypeasteroida. This family was first scientifically described in 1835 by the Swiss-American biologist Louis Agassiz. Genera The World Register of Marine Species list the following genera as ...

. Their armour is covered with spines. Clypeaster australasiae was first scientifically described in 1851 by Gray.Kroh, A. (2010). ''Clypeaster australasiae'' (Gray, 1851). In: Kroh, A. & Mooi, R. (2010
World Echinoidea Database
at the

World Register of Marine Species The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) is a taxonomic database that aims to provide an authoritative and comprehensive list of names of marine organisms. Content The content of the registry is edited and maintained by scientific specialist ...

. ''Clypeaster australaiae'' is a dark red-brown to cream coloured animal with a slightly convex upper surface and distinct markings in a flower-petal pattern. The surface of the

test Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to: * Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities Arts and entertainment * ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film * ''Test'' (2014 film), ...

is covered by a dense mat of small spines and tubercles.

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.

Distribution

Port Phillip Port Phillip (Kulin languages, Kulin: ''Narm-Narm'') or Port Phillip Bay is a horsehead-shaped bay#Types, enclosed bay on the central coast of southern Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The bay opens into the Bass Strait via a short, ...

Heads, Victoria, to

Bowen, Queensland Bowen is a coastal town and locality in the Whitsunday Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Bowen had a population of 10,377 people. The locality contains two other towns: * Heronvale () * Merinda (). The Abbot Point coal s ...

, and western

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

. Also

Lord Howe Island Lord Howe Island (; formerly Lord Howe's Island) is an irregularly crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, part of the Australian state of New South Wales. It lies directly east of mainland P ...

and

Norfolk Island Norfolk Island (, ; Norfuk: ''Norf'k Ailen'') is an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and New Caledonia, directly east of Australia's Evans Head and about from Lord Howe Island. Together with ...

Size

Length up to 150mm.

References

Animals described in 1851 Clypeaster {{echinoidea-stub