Seirocrinus subangularis

(German Sea Lily)

(Click on Photo to Enlarge)

Name:  Seirocrinus subangularis
Geologic Age: Jurassic
Location: Posidonienschiefer formation, Holzmaden Germany
Comments:  The crinoid, also known as the sea lily or feather star, is one of the world's so-called "living fossils". They belong to the phylum Echinodermata, with their own class, Crinoidea, and count amongst their distant relatives the starfish, brittle star and sea urchin. They are filter feeders, grabbing microscopic particles on which to feed as great forests of them sway back and forth on the ocean floor. Their fossils are found all over the world, but the most beautiful and desirable are those from the Posidonia shale beds of Holzmaden in southern Germany. The strong dark color of the shale matrix serves as a beautiful background to the delicate serpentine neck of the fossil, highlighted by the subtle shimmer of pyritization. The matrix itself has been prepared and polished, to better the contrast with the superb three-dimensional detail of the fossil itself which stands out in high relief.  some species did not root themselves to the ocean floor, but floated through the waters attached to drifting floral debris - and gathered around its anchor are the remains of other members of the colony. This is a superbly prepared and of museum quality specimen with an irregularly-shaped matrix that measures approximately 35" wide x 65" tall.  The Crinoid measures approx. 45" long.  The crown itself measures an impressive 15" wide x 9" tall.   The log that the crinoid is attached to measures approx. 15" long.   This is a wonderful specimen!!

Holzmaden Crinoid  1 Price $55,000.00