30MM Brittle Star Petraster Starfish Fossil Ordovician Age Blekus Morocco COA

Location: Kataoua Formation, Blekus, Morocco

Weight: 4.8 Ounces 

Starfish Dimensions: 30MM 

Dimension: 2.6 Inches Long, 2 Inches Wide, 1 Inch Thick (Plate)

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. 

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Brittlestar Petraster

This remarkable limestone slab was recovered from Middle-Upper Ordovician strata, approximately 450 million years old, in Morocco’s Anti-Atlas region. Originally part of an ancient seafloor, these sediments were uplifted to form mountains around 80 million years ago. The slab contains well-preserved fossils of early echinoderms, including ophiuroids (brittle stars) characterized by their five flexible arms and central disk, closely resembling extant species inhabiting reef and marine environments. Also present are eocrinoids, likely Ascocystites, featuring elongated stems and clusters of arm-like appendages used for suspension feeding. The presence of both larger and smaller specimens, often closely associated, raises intriguing questions about their ecological interactions, perhaps involving predation or commensal relationships.

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.