Java Enterprise Best Practices

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The animal on the cover of Java Enterprise Best Practices is the common sand dollar (Echinarachnius parma). This species of sand dollar can be found on the shores of the North American East coast north of New Jersey. It is circumpolar and can also be found in Alaska, British Columbia, Siberia, and Japan.

A sand dollar can be anywhere from 5-10 centimeters when fully grown and can weigh 10-25 grams. The hard shell (called a “test” since it is not really a shell because it is sheathed in skin) contains several small perforations that form a five-part, petal-like configuration. The animal is covered in brown spines, which gives it a furry appearance. Spines on its flat underside help it move through the sand. Hair-like strands called cilia cover the spines. Coated in mucous, cilia capture and move food to the sand dollar’s mouth, which lies in the middle of the star-shaped grooves on the animal’s underside. Sand dollars feed on algae and small pieces of organic material found on the ocean floor.

Because of their hard shells and minuscule bodies, sand dollars are relatively safe from predators. Also, they further protect themselves by burrowing into the sand on the sea floor. After a storm, their skeletons will often wash up on beaches. ...