Sale NH0903 Lot 214

FINE FOSSIL CRINOID PLAQUE
Platycrinites niotensis, Barycrinus rhombiferus, Agariocrinus spendens, Platycrinites brevinodus, Sacrocrinus varsovensus, Halysiocrinus tunicatus, Platyceras equilateralis Gastropods, Onychaster flexilis Starfish
Mississippian epoch, Osagean stage
Edwardsville Formation, Crawfordville, Indiana, USA
The crinoid, known also 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. This fine example is from the famed Crawfordsville crinoid beds and was prepared in situ by master preparator Tom Witherspoon, whose work can be found in most of the major natural history museums across the world, including the Smithsonian and the Field Museum of Chicago. Mr. Witherspoon's skill is immediately evident in the superb three-dimensionality of this plaque and the exquisitely delicate detail of the specimens themselves, including two mostly complete P. niotensis and the corona, stem and root section remains of several other specimens, including Sarocrinus varsovensis, on a natural matrix plaque measuring 10 1/4 x 6 1/2 inches.

Estimate $2,600-3,200