3.2" Brittle Star Ophiura Sp Starfish Fossil Ordovician Age Morocco COA

Location: Kataoua Formation, Blekus, Morocco

Weight: 8.8 Ounces 

Dimension: 4.6 Inches Long, 2.9 Inches Wide, 0.8 Inches Thick (Plate)

Starfish Dimensions: 3.2 Inches Long, 2.1 Inches Wide 

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. 

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Brittlestar Ophiura Sp

This intriguing limestone slab was taken from Middle-Upper Ordovician rocks in the Anti-Atlas part of the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, dating to about 450 million years ago. This slab was once part of an ancient seafloor that was uplifted and incorporated into mountains roughly 80 million years ago, long after the seafloor had transformed into thick layers of rock.

This slab contains fossils of early echinoderms, including echinoids and brittle stars (ophiuroids). The brittle stars are easily identified by their five flexible arms and compact central body. They closely resemble modern brittle star species, which typically inhabit reefs, shallow coastal waters, and deeper ocean areas, feeding on tiny organisms floating in the water. This fossil offers a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the continuity of marine life across millions of years.

Eocrinoids are more unusual, with long, thin, tapering stems and clusters of arm-like appendages at the opposite end. These animals are probably the Eocrinoid Ascocystites, a suspension feeder that would have extracted food directly from the water column, filtering out microorganisms with the help of those appendages.

Eocrinoids, despite their name, are not related to crinoids (sea lilies) and exhibit several morphological differences compared to both ancient and modern crinoids. Nevertheless, much like many fossil crinoids, their extended stems enabled them to anchor securely to hard surfaces and elevate themselves above the seafloor.

There appear to be several larger individuals along with several much smaller ones. Those smaller animals 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.

Please be aware of the nature of fossils:

Being buried under the ground for millions of years under tons of pressure tends to be rough. No fossil comes out of the ground whole and perfect. Most fossils have undergone some restoration, while others are altered by man simply to enhance their presentation in different ways. The workers in Morocco do a very professional job of unearthing and preserving these natural treasures. These are part of the natural beauty of the fossil and are not considered defects.