Scyphocrinites elegans.

        This section of the web site has been set up to share beautiful fossil specimens which for one reason or another we were unable to obtain..

       The specimen at right is a Scyphocrinites elegans plate with eight or nine crinoid heads with stems present.  The detail and coloration are perfect.  The only way for this plate to have been better would have been if it contained a complete crinoid.  Head, stem, and root..

       Thats where the fourth picture comes in.  This plate has three heads, in various positions.  It also has a complete crinoid.  This species of crinoid is almost never found complete.  Unlike most crinoids which are attached to the ground or a floating object, Syphocrinites elegans was free floating.  The ball at the base of the plate was a float.  The crinoid actually hung upside down, compared to the way we normally visualize crinoids (ground up).  It was a filter feeder at or near the surface of the water. 

       Typically this species would become separated from the float somewhere along the stem and fall to the bottom.  The float would then rupture later and fall to the bottom as well.  This species represented as a full crinoid is extremely rare.

       To see some of the steps in the replica creation process, please view other pages in this web site.  Also enjoy the other products and information on this web site.  New additions, and updates, are made to the site monthly.

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Scyphocrinites elegans - Morocco. .

Close up of upper left of center

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Close up of center of plate.

Different Scyphocrinites specimen with full crinoid presented.