34MM Brittle Star Petraster Starfish Fossil Ordovician Age Blekus Morocco COA
Location: Kataoua Formation, Blekus, Morocco
Weight: 12 Ounces
Starfish Dimensions: 34MM
Dimension: 4.6 Inches Long, 3.2 Inches Wide, 0.9 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.
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 stand out with their long, slender stems crowned by clusters of arm-like appendages. These fascinating creatures, probably Ascocystites, thrived as suspension feeders, efficiently capturing microorganisms from the water. Despite what their name might imply, eocrinoids are distinct from crinoids (sea lilies) and exhibit clear structural differences from both ancient and modern varieties. Their elongated stems allowed them to firmly anchor to surfaces while elevating themselves above the seafloor for optimal feeding. The presence of larger and much smaller specimens suggests either juvenile forms or separate species. Intriguingly, these smaller eocrinoids often appear close to brittle stars, hinting at intriguing ecological interactions worth exploring.
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.
