Agaricocrinus Crinoid With Long Composite Stem - Crawfordsville

This is a pair of detailed, three dimensional crinoids from the famous Witherspoon crinoid quarry near Crawfordsville, Indiana. The quality of preparation on this fossil is very nice - using skillful air-abrasion techniques under a stereo microscope. The larger Agaricocrinus splendens crinoid is 1.6" long (plus 7.5" stem). The stem has been composited onto the rock.

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.


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DETAILS
SPECIES
Agaricocrinus splendens
LOCATION
Witherspoon Quarry, Crawfordsville, Indiana
FORMATION
Edwardsville Formation
SIZE
1.6" larger head on 7.7 x 6.7" rock
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#94339
GUARANTEE
We guarantee the authenticity of all of our specimens.