Lot 519
HUGE STARFISH MASS MORTALITY PLATE. Finding a complete starfish is not easy because the delicate arms break off quite easily during the fossilization process. Finding a mass burial of more than 28 complete starfish is extraordinary. This huge 29" x 22.5" museum quality plate is 475 million years old from Lkaidrami, Messeu, Southern Morocco. This magnificent sea bottom slab preserves a snapshot of what life existed on the sandy bottom of the warm seas of Morocco 475 million years ago before being buried by mud or volcanic ash. There are more than 24 brittle stars (ophiuroids) up to 4 inches in diameter. Brittle starfish usually hang in groups and attach themselves to the sea bottom and filter feed on small creatures that float by.
Also, there are three asteroid starfish intermingled with the brittle stars. The largest of these typical starfish is 3 inches and one of them even has a speckled, spotted pattern which would have been some color pattern when the starfish was alive, but color does not fossilize. Completing this remarkable 100% natural slab is a single one inch long trilobite. This is a rare opportunity to acquire both a rare and dramatic fossil for both display and study.
Add $65 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,700.
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