| Crinoids are a class of echinoderms, commonly known as
"sea lilies" and "feather stars" Although plant like in appearance,
crinoids were actually marine animals. These first appeared in
the fossil records some 530 million years ago, but became abundant during
the Ordovician Period. The seal lilies flourished in shallow inland
seas and lived in groups of several thousands, permanently attached to the
ocean floor. Crinoids fed on microorganisms in the passing sea
water. The feather star type were free-floating stemless
crinoids that appeared more recently in the Mesozoic Era. They would
swim or crawl on the ocean floor in search for food.
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Click on the picture for a large image. |
Feather stars are found in shallow tropical reef environments today.
Two more views of the same plate: click on photos for larger view !
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| These photos are more color accurate.
Notice ( photo right) the various turitellas and brachiopods, they are all
over the matrix! Definitely a great collector specimen! The lucky purchaser of this specimen will also receive the original hand painted card: signed by the artist.
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Click on the picture for a large image. | ||
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Sea lilies still live today, restricted to depths greater than 100 meters. |
