A stunning example of a crinoid fossil of the species Pentacrinites fossilis from the world-famous Jurassic Coast beach of Charmouth, Dorset UK.
The fossil measures 48 mm (1.9 inches) across and consists of several stems with highly detailed tentacle-like attachment cirri running across the surface. It has an extremely high level of detail down to the smallest parts. It is preserved in iron pyrite, giving it a wonderful metallic colour and shine. This is a very fine example of this fossil type and would have come from a larger colony of crinoids.
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.