{"product_id":"2-two-brittlestar-ophiura-sp-starfish-fossil-ordovician-age-morocco-coa-06mqq442","title":"2 Two  Brittlestar Ophiura Sp Starfish Fossil Ordovician Age Morocco COA","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003eLocation: Kataoua Formation, Blekus, Morocco\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeight: 9.4 Ounces \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimension: 4 Inches Long, 3.9 Inches Wide, 0.6 Inches Thick (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #b45f06;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlate)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #bb670e;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003eComes with a Certificate of Authenticity. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #38761d;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003eThe item pictured is the one you will receive.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #b45f06;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003eBrittlestar Ophiura Sp\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis fascinating limestone slab originates from Middle-Upper Ordovician rocks, about 450 million years old, found in the Anti-Atlas region of the Moroccan Atlas Mountains. Once part of an ancient seafloor, it was uplifted and incorporated into mountains roughly 80 million years ago, well after the seafloor transformed into thick rock layers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe slab features fossils of early echinoderms, including echinoids and ophiuroids (brittle stars). The brittle stars are identifiable by their five prehensile arms and compact central body, closely resembling modern species that inhabit reefs, shallow waters, and deeper environments, feeding on small suspended organisms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEocrinoids are more unusual fossils, showing long, slender, tapering stems and clusters of arm-like structures at the opposite end. They are likely Ascocystites, a suspension feeder that filtered microorganisms from the water using these appendages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite their name, eocrinoids are not related to crinoids (sea lilies) and differ in several features. Nonetheless, like many fossil crinoids, their elongated stems enabled attachment to hard surfaces and possibly raised them off the seafloor.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003eThere appear to be several larger individuals along with several much smaller ones. Those\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e sm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003ealler \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003eanimals may be juveniles of the larger form or a different species. Do you notice how the smaller individuals often seem to be in close contact with the brittle stars? We are often led to wonder whether the brittle stars were feeding on the smaller echinoids.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1250\/0441\/files\/Brittlestar_Ophiura_Starfish_New.jpg?v=1751050231\" alt=\"\" width=\"1264\" height=\"881\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #b45f06;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003ePlease be aware of the nature of fossils:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeing buried for millions of years under tons of pressure is rough. No fossil emerges perfect; most need restoration or are altered by humans to improve appearance. Moroccan workers professionally unearth and preserve these natural treasures, which are part of their beauty, not defects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MORFIN26","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52116146323736,"sku":"06MQQ442","price":95.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1250\/0441\/files\/5U8A1320_8430f49d-9d80-4538-aa44-e0554f942aa9.jpg?v=1780076377","url":"https:\/\/www.fossilageminerals.com\/products\/2-two-brittlestar-ophiura-sp-starfish-fossil-ordovician-age-morocco-coa-06mqq442","provider":"Fossil Age Minerals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}