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 consists of the head of the animal with detailed arms and pinnules exposed still attached to the stem with cirri, all preserved in 3D. It is preserved in limestone with no pyrite. These crinoids are very sought after and not easy to find these days and this one is a really nice example with a high level of detail. Crinoid heads are rare from any location.
Around 196 million years old (Sinemurian, Early Jurassic), 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.