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

Description

4.6" Brittlestar Ophiura Sp Starfish Fossil Ordovician Age Morocco COA & Stand
4.6" Brittlestar Ophiura Sp Starfish Fossil Ordovician Age Morocco COA & Stand
Location: Kataoua Formation, Blekus Morocco
Weight: 3 Pound 9.5 Ounces
Starfish One Dimensions: 4.6 Inches Long, 3.9 Inches Wide
Starfish Two Dimensions: 2.3 Inches Long, 1.9 Inches Wide
Dimension: 10 Inches Long, 4.7 Inches Wide, 1.4 Inches Thick (
Plate)
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
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 yrs. 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 yrs. 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 eocrinoids and ophiuroids (brittle stars). The brittle stars are clearly 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 are more unusual, with long thin taperings 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 micro-organisms with the help of those appendages.
Despite the name, eocrinoids were unrelated to crinoids (seal 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.
There appear to be several larger individuals along with a number of much smaller ones. Those smaller animals may be juveniles of the larger form or a different species. Do you notice how the smaller individuals often seem to be in close contact with the brittle stars? We are often led to wonder whether the brittle stars were feeding on the smaller eocrinoids.
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, unearthing and preserving these natural treasures.  These are part of the natural beauty of the fossil and not considered defects.
Shipping
Payments
Terms of Sale
Contact Us
We offer combined discounted shipping on purchases made the same day.
If your using PayPal payment we only ship to the shipping address specified on PayPal.
Most orders are shipped with the United States Postal Services with tracking.
All shipments will be shipped within 24 hours except Sundays
Signatures are required on all purchases over 0 USD
All payments must be made within 72 hours of placing your order.
UNCONDITIONAL RETURN POLICY
At Fossil Age Minerals, customer service and satisfaction are our highest priorities. Because your positive buying experience is very important to us, Fossil Age Minerals has an Unconditional return policy if:
1. All returns must be in their original state.
2. All return requests are made within 30 Calendar days of receipt of merchandise.
You can contact us between the hour of 9:00AM - 8:00PM Central time Mon - Fri. We are closed on weekends and holidays.