Mississippian Crinoid Plate

$18,500.00

This well-preserved fossil plate demonstrates the close relationship between echinoderm families. This Museum Quality Specimen features superb preservation of 21 Crinoids, 2 Starfish, juvenile and mature forms, important diagnostic anatomical features, easy display with a small footprint.

Description

Crinoids and two Starfish preserved

21 Crinoids are from the Upper Boader Group, Mississippian Period, Montgomery Co. Indiana

The animals fossilized in this splay of crinoid specimens lived in a vibrant deltaic ecosystem approximately 330 million years ago in what is now Western Indiana. The fast-growing delta was fed by a river system washing sediments into the ocean from high mountains dominating the proto–North American Continent. As the river sediments piled up and became top heavy, sections of the delta would slump off sweeping everything in the local community with it.

This well preserved fossil plate of crinoids demonstrates the close relationship between echinoderm families.  2 Onycaster flexilis are purched on Actinicrinites and appear to be “holding on for dear life” after the shock of dislocation and subsequent burial. In spite of their close association, Starfish are rarely preserved with crinoids.

Important aspects pertaining to this Museum Quality Specimen: Superb preservation, 21 Crinoids, 2 Starfish, juvenile and mature forms, important diagnostic anatomical features, easy to display with a small foot print.  It measures 29 inches high by 23 inches wide and a couple inches thick.

Species list:

  1. Onycaster flexilis (starfish) (2)
  2. Actinocrinities gibsoni (2)
  3. Gilbertsocrinus tuberosis
  4. Platycrinities hemisphericus
  5. Onychocrinus exculptus
  6. Cyathocrinites mulitbrachiatus (2)
  7. Cyathocrinites opimus
  8. Taxocrinus colletti
  9. Scytalocrinus disparilis
  10. Hypselocrinus hoveyi (juvenile)
  11. Macocrinus mundelus (6)
  12. Unidentified juveniles (4)

Serious inquiries only:  John M. Arnold, 307-680-2576. Nature Source Fossil Company, Gillette, Wyoming.