A stunning and rare example of a crinoid fossil of the species Pentacrinites fossilis from the world-famous Jurassic Coast beach of Charmouth, Dorset UK.
The fossil measures 240 mm (9.45 inches) across, which is very large for this fossil type. It consists of two crinoid heads preserved next to one another. They would have both belonged to the same colony of crinoids that lived attached to a piece of floating driftwood in the Jurassic seas. The detail in the crowns of arms and pinnules of the heads is exceptional and it is preserved in calcite with no pyrite. There are several natural cracks running through the fossil which are faults from movements in the rock over geological time. It has been coated in a thin reversible (soluble) lacquer and backed with a durable rock-coloured plaster for protection and stability. These crinoid heads are rare and not often offered for sale, particularly of this size and quality. They are hard to find and many hours of preparation work goes into them after they are found.
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.