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 105 mm (4.2 inches) tall and consists of a single head still attached to its stem. The detail in the the arms and pinnules is very good and it is preserved in calcite with no pyrite. It has been coated in a thin reversible (soluble) lacquer and backed with a durable rock-coloured plaster for protection. 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.