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| Fascinating Crinoid, Blastoid, & Bryozoan Specimen |
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MISSOURI
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| Stock Number CCUSM61 |
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Name:
Cactocrinus, Orophocrinus, Cryptoblastus, Evactinopora
Age: Mississippian
Formation: Lower Burlington
Location: Ralls County, Missouri
Size: Plate is 4.0" X 6.8"
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Here is an extremely interesting plate of fossils from the Lower Burlington Formation of Missouri. There are two crinoids, five blastoids (two different types), and an unusual bryozoan on this slab. On the left side of the plate is a wonderful example of Cactocrinus multibrachiatus. This crinoid has a large stellate-plated cup and a tegmen composed of numerous, protuberant plates. The long anal tube is unusually well preserved and the arm attachment points are easily seen. On the right side of the plate are two specimens of Orophocrinus stelliformis. These highly uncommon, star-shaped blastoids are highly prized by the local collectors and to have two examples on the same plate is very rare indeed. There are also three Cryptoblastus melo on the plate. These melon-shaped blastoids exhibit fine detail - the thin ambulacra are easily seen. In the extreme lower left of the limestone block is a strange bryozoan, Evactinopora sp., that looks somewhat like a starfish. Lying between the large Orophocrinus and the center Cryptoblastus is an example of Steganocrinus. This crinoid shows the stem attachment point. The whitish color of the fossils contrast nicely with the orangish-brown matrix that is loaded with other echinoderm fragments. This is an intriguing plate of fossils from the Mississippian sea.
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