3.5" Brittle Star Ophiura Sp Starfish Fossil Ordovician Age Morocco COA & Stand

Location: Kataoua Formation, Blekus, Morocco

Weight: 6.7 Ounces 

Dimension: 4.4 Inches Long, 3.8 Inches Wide, 0.4 Inches Thick (Plate)

Starfish Dimensions: 3.5 Inches Long, 2.8 Inches Wide 

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The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Brittlestar Ophiura Sp

This intriguing limestone slab was extracted from Middle-Upper Ordovician (about 450 million years old) rocks in the Anti-Atlas part of the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. This slab was once part of an ancient seafloor that was uplifted and incorporated into mountains about 80 million years ago, long after the seafloor turned into thick layers of rock.

The fossils preserved in this slab include early echinoderms (spiny-skinned marine invertebrate animals) known as echinoids and ophiuroids (brittle stars). The brittle stars are recognizable, with their five prehensile arms and the compact central body. They look very similar to living species of brittle stars, most of which live in reefs, and shallows near shore and deeper water environments, and feed on small organisms suspended in the water.

Eocrinoids exhibit distinctive features, characterized by elongated, slender, tapering stems topped with clusters of arm-like appendages. These specimens are likely Ascocystites, suspension feeders that obtained nourishment by filtering microorganisms directly from the water column using their specialized appendages. Despite their name, eocrinoids are not closely related to crinoids (sea lilies) and present several morphological differences from both ancient and extant crinoids. Their extended stems facilitated attachment to hard substrates, enabling them to elevate themselves above the seafloor. The assemblage includes several larger specimens alongside markedly smaller individuals, which may represent juveniles or a different species altogether. Interestingly, the smaller forms are frequently observed in close association with brittle stars, prompting speculation about potential predatory interactions between brittle stars and 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.