5" Brittle Star Ophiura Sp Starfish Fossil Ordovician Age Morocco COA & Stand
Location: Kataoua Formation, Blekus, Morocco
Weight: 1 Pound 5.2 Ounces
Dimension: 6.2 Inches Long, 4.2 Inches Wide, 1 Inch Thick (Plate)
Starfish Dimensions: 5 Inches Long, 2.8 Inches Wide
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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 contains fossils of early echinoderms—spiny-skinned marine invertebrates—specifically echinoids and ophiuroids, commonly known as brittle stars. The brittle stars are identifiable by their five flexible arms and a small central body. They closely resemble modern brittle stars, which typically inhabit reef areas, shallow coastal waters, and deeper marine environments, feeding 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.
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 shows several large brittle stars accompanied by numerous smaller ones. These smaller creatures might be juvenile forms of the larger brittle stars or possibly an entirely different species. Interestingly, the smaller individuals are frequently found in close proximity to the brittle stars, which raises questions about whether the brittle stars were 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.
