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 265 mm (10.45 inches) across, which is very large for a crinoid fossil from this location. The fossil consists of a colony of animals preserved together in a mass with good detail in the exposed stems, arms, and pinnules. These colonies lived in the Jurassic seas attached to pieces of floating driftwood. Finding a colony like this is rare on the Coast. It is preserved in limestone with no pyrite and has been backed with a rock-coloured plaster to make it strong and stable. Many hours of preparation have gone into this specimen. These crinoids are very sought after and not easy to find these days. It is a heavy piece, weighing 1045 grams total. A real one-off specimen for the collector of fine fossils.
Around 196 million years old (Sinemurian, Early Jurassic), this fossil would make a wonderful addition to any collection.