32MM Brittle Star Petraster Starfish Fossil Ordovician Age Blekus Morocco COA

Location: Kataoua Formation, Blekus, Morocco

Weight: 2.8 Ounces 

Starfish Dimensions: 32MM 

Dimension: 2.9 Inches Long, 3 Inches Wide, 0.7 Inches Thick (Plate)

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. 

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Brittlestar Petraster

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.

This slab contains fossils of early echinoderms, including echinoids and ophiuroids, commonly known as brittle stars. The brittle stars are identifiable by their five flexible arms and compact central disc, closely resembling modern counterparts that inhabit reef ecosystems and a range of marine environments from shallow to deeper waters. These organisms likely fed on microscopic particles suspended in the water. Also present are eocrinoids, characterized by elongated, slender stems and clusters of arm-like structures at the opposite end. These specimens are likely Ascocystites, a genus of suspension feeders that filtered microorganisms directly from the water column using their specialized appendages.

Despite the name, eocrinoids were unrelated to crinoids (sea Lilies) and differ in several morphological features from ancient and modern crinoids. However, like many fossil crinoids, their elongated stem allowed for attachment to hard substrates and the possibility of raising themselves higher off the seafloor.

The specimen includes several larger individuals accompanied by numerous much smaller ones. These smaller creatures could represent juvenile stages of the larger forms or belong to an entirely different species. Notably, the smaller individuals frequently appear in close association with the brittle stars, inviting speculation as to whether the brittle stars were preying upon these 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.