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

Location: Kataoua Formation, Blekus, Morocco

Weight: 1 Pound 6.1 Ounces 

Dimension: 6.5 Inches Long, 4.8 Inches Wide, 0.9 Inches Thick (Plate)

Starfish Dimensions: 4.6 Inches Long, 5.4 Inches Wide 

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Comes with a Free Stand.

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.

This slab features fossils of early echinoderms, including echinoids and ophiuroids, commonly known as brittle stars. The brittle stars are identifiable by their five flexible arms and a compact central body. They closely resemble modern brittle star species, which are typically found in reef habitats, shallow coastal waters, and deeper marine environments, where they feed on tiny suspended organisms.

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.

Although named eocrinoids, these organisms are not related to crinoids (sea lilies) and exhibit distinct morphological differences from both ancient and modern crinoids. Their elongated stems, similar to many fossil crinoids, enabled them to anchor to firm surfaces and elevate themselves above the seafloor. The specimen includes several larger individuals alongside much smaller ones, which may represent juveniles of the same species or a separate species. Notably, the smaller individuals are frequently located near brittle stars, suggesting a possible ecological interaction in which brittle stars may have been preying on 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.