8.7" Fossil Crinoid (Scytalocrinus) With Coral - Indiana

Fossil Crinoid (Scytalocrinus) With Coral - Indiana #273742

This is a detailed association of two crinoids and coral, collected from the famous crinoid beds near Crawfordsville, Indiana. This association includes a phenomenal 7.4" wide (including stem) Scytalocrinus disparilis (#42), a .85" long Parascytalocrinus validus crinoid (#46), and a 2.9" wide coral fossil of the species Cladochonus beecheri (#110). The quality of preparation on this fossil is exquisite - using skillful air-abrasion techniques under a stereo microscope.

About 4" of the distal end of the stem has been mounted to the Scytalocrinus disparilis crinoid. The crown of this crinoid measures just over 2.95" long. It comes with an acrylic-metal display stand.

Crinoids from the Ramp Creek Limestone were likely buried in sediment from nearby deltas during storms. The resulting siltstone deposits are soft enough that fossils can be extracted in exquisite, three-dimensional relief.

Crinoids, sometimes commonly referred to as sea lilies, are animals, not plants. They are echinoderms related to starfish, sea urchins, and brittle stars. Many crinoid traits are like other members of their phylum. Such traits include tube feet, radial symmetry, a water vascular system, and appendages in multiples of five (pentameral). They first appeared in the Ordovician (488 million years ago) and some species are still alive today.

About Crinoids