Brittle Star

This fossilised Brittle Star belonged to the extinct class Ophiuroidea, a group of echinoderms distantly related to modern starfish, and dates to the Late Jurassic period, approximately 150 million years ago. Mounted on a bespoke oak base stand.

With its delicate, sinuous arms radiating from a central disc, the specimen reveals the intricate symmetry and fine structural detail of a creature adapted to life on the seabed. Brittle stars were agile scavengers and filter-feeders, using their flexible limbs to move across sediment and capture drifting food particles in the currents.

Recovered from limestone formations in southern Germany, this fossil has been prepared to retain its original definition, with each limb, spine, and joint a testament to the quiet complexity of prehistoric marine ecosystems.

Base: Solid Smooth Grain European Oak
Mount: Stainless Steel

Please be aware that sizes will vary as these are natural products subject to natural variation. The picture shown is an example of the quality that you can expect to receive. 

Name: Brittle Star
Age: 150 Million Years Old
Location: Bavaria, Germany

Brittle stars were highly mobile seafloor dwellers, using their slender, jointed arms to crawl in search of organic debris and small prey. Unlike starfish, their arms are distinctly separated from the central disc, giving them greater agility and a characteristic, almost delicate appearance.

The Solnhofen region is renowned for its exceptional fossil preservation, offering fine-grained limestone that captured even the most fragile of marine organisms. This environment allowed for the exquisite detail seen in this specimen, each arm preserved in lifelike motion, a rare snapshot of ancient life on the Jurassic sea floor.

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