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UNIQUE DOUBLE BRITTLE STAR STARFISH IN SOLNHOFEN LITHOGRAPHIC LIMESTONE WITH DENDRITE PATTERNS Solnhofen Lithographic Limestone - Zandt, Southern Germany UPPER JURASSIC PERIOD (MALM): 154 - 144 million years ago This is an unusual and highly aesthetic double specimen of the Brittle star Geocoma carinata. As stated, it is completely natural and can boast of no painting or enhancement. Both starfish are uniquely located on the finest grade German lithographic limestone that Zandt is known for. As seen in the close-up image, the detail and body parts of the starfish are of superb preservation with one animal being complete and another being partially exposed. Many features of this fossil set it apart from even the best of ordinary examples. Beautiful rich gold banding is present from two opposing sides with the patterns curving away from each other. This banding is separated by a border of stunning dendritic patterns, natural black mineralization that is sometimes found in this limestone. Dendrites resemble fossil plant impressions but are simply a pattern made by minerals. One of the brittle stars is above this border and one is below. The placement of the brittle stars and the banding and dendrites make the entire fossil plate look like a painting with the horizon and trees being the dendrites and the banding resembling clouds above and water below. Exceptional in every way and one of the most unique of a very rare lot of specimens we recently received from an ex-collection of a private German museum. RECOMMENDED! Starfish (scientifically known as ASTEROIDS and OPHIUROIDS) first appear in the fossil record in the Lower Ordovician. They are members of the phylum Echinodermata, the largest phylum of strictly marine creatures. Starfish are included in this group along with animals such as sea urchins, sea cucumbers and sand dollars. Most living echinoderms have a five-fold symmetry called PENTAMERAL. This is not always the case though, and despite the common five arms, there are starfish species that have many more then just five. Echinoderms have an internal water canal system and tube feet with suckers that they use to move, burrow and grasp objects. Because of their overall fragile nature, starfish are rarely preserved as complete specimens. Brittle stars are a type of starfish that are uniquely classified in their own group called OPHIUROIDEA. The ophiuroids possess five long and fragile arms radiating out from a small, round disc-shaped body. Brittle stars lack the bulk and thickness of the asteroids and are lightly armored. Famous for producing an astonishing diversity of rare and most intricately preserved fossils found anywhere in the world, the lithographic limestone quarries of Solnhofen in southern Germany are legendary. This region was once a shallow and quiet marine environment with a lime mud bottom. All the conditions of this formation were perfect during the Jurassic to preserve a host of prehistoric life that is unlike anything seen in any other part of our planet in terms of quality! Zandt is one of the most desirable locations in the Solnhofen Formation, producing the smoothest and finest grade stone showcasing incredibly fine grade fossils of the Jurassic. HIGHLY AESTHETIC, UNUSUAL - DOUBLE SPECIMEN WITH PICTURE-LIKE PATTERNS IN STONE! 4.5" x 4.5" overall in matrix with starfish 1.5" and .65" in width, respectively SOLD SF005 INCLUDES STAND Actual Item - One Only |
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