Beautiful Asterocidaris Urchin Fossil - Jurassic

This is a fantastically prepared specimen of a Middle Jurassic urchin fossil of the species Asterocidaris bistriata. All of the spines have been prepared individually from the limestone it was found in and mounted in a lifelike position. These urchins with spines are always composites because the spines break off from the body very quickly after they die. It's a very aesthetically pleasing and impressive fossil.

The scientific description of the Asterocidaris can be found here.