Draft:Star sand
Star sand is a rare sand-like substance, also known as living sand. It is most frequently found along the shore surrounding the Okinawa Islands. Star sand is created from the skeletal remains of foraminifera, a group of marine microorganisms.[1] There are more than 10,000 species in the phylum, but only some such as Baclogypsina sphaerulata are star shaped.[2] The presence of star sand causes the beaches to "grow" over time as a result of their life cycle.[1] Removal of star sand from the environment is prohibited.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Hobson, Melissa. "This isn't a starfish—it's a rare sand found only in Japan". National Geographic. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ Morton, Ella. "The Star-Shaped Sand of Okinawa". Slate. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ Large, Holly. "Rare Star-Shaped Sand Can Be Found On These Japanese Beaches". IFLScience. Retrieved 5 January 2025.