Asteroidea
indet
Phylum
Echinodermata, Subphylum Asterozoa, Class Ophiuroidea
Geological
Time: Middle Ordovician
Size: 18
mm armspan on a 100 mm by 60 mm matrix
Fossil Site:
El Kaid Errami, Morocco (East of Anti-atlas Mountains)
Fossil Code:
14145
Price: Sold
 Description:
This plate displays an unusual starfish found in the Ordovician
deposits of El Kaid Errami. Intact starfish specimens are quite
uncommon in the fossil  record. This specimen is a member of the
Asteroidea, or True Starfish. Unlike the brittlestars, true starfish
have no demarcation between the arms and the ventral body, and
move by means of tube feet rather than by the sinuous movements
of the arms. The starfish is unusual in that it has 6 arms rather
than the usual 5. Most likely it had lost one and when regrown
two arms took its place like Hydra from mythology. It is seen
in association with some small crinoids and other material..
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