A good example of a crinoid fossil of the species Pentacrinites fossilis from the world-famous Jurassic Coast beach of Charmouth, Dorset UK.
The fossil measures 71 mm (2.8 inches) across, which is a good size for a crinoid from this location. The fossil consists of several large stems with attachment cirri. The remains are from a very large crinoid, making the piece very chunky. It has an extremely high level of detail down to the smallest parts. It has a natural layer of pyrite on the surface giving it a golden metallic colour and shine. The back of the fossil also has several stem ossicles that show the five-pointes star-shaped cross section that gives this genus its name. It was found in two pieces and has been repaired back together, as is standard for these delicate fossils. This is a very fine example of this fossil type.
Around 196 million years old, this fossil would make a wonderful addition to any collection.
Crinoids are echinoderms closely related to starfish and sea urchins, and have been around for many hundreds of millions of years. They still live today in the deep seas around the world.