Fossil Crinoid Plate. Scyphocrinus elegans. Silurian/Devonian. Morocco. ...

Description

Fossil Crinoids

Fossil Crinoid Plate
Scyphocrinus elegans
Silurian/Devonian
Morocco

Popularly known as "sea lilies" for their graceful, plant-like form, Crinoids were ancient marine invertebrates that flourished in the world's oceans for hundreds of millions of years. Though resembling underwater flora, these organisms were in fact echinoderms, relatives of starfish and sea urchins, whose delicate calyxes functioned as flower-like crowns used to filter plankton from seawater. The species Scyphocrinus elegans is particularly fascinating within this lineage, having evolved a unique spherical structure known as a lobolith, which acted as a buoyant float. This adaptation allowed the crinoid to drift freely through the ancient seas, rather than remaining anchored to the sea floor as most of its relatives did-a remarkable evolutionary innovation for its time. The present specimen is a large, richly textural composition, showcasing numerous intricately preserved Crinoids arranged in a naturally artistic formation. The rust-toned Limestone matrix, colored by iron oxide, provides a warm and visually striking contrast to the fine anatomical detail of the fossils themselves. An impressive and highly decorative museum-quality specimen, this Scyphocrinus elegans assemblage unites scientific significance with natural sculptural beauty, embodying the elegance and complexity of life in Earth's ancient oceans.
Overall Measurements: 67.00 x 51.50 x 2.00 inches (170.18 x 130.81 x 5.08 cm)

Provenance: Property of a Distinguished Southern California Collector

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