Four Species of Crinoids On One Plate - Gilmore City, Iowa

This is an incredible crinoid association plate that contains a nice variety of species. It was collected from the Gilmore City Formation in Gilmore City, Iowa. There are 25 total crinoids on this slab of rock; 10 Eretmocrinus tentor, 9 Dichocrinus multiplex, 3 Cercidocrinus cirrifer and 3 Aorocrinus iola crinoids. Also, there's a partially exposed brachiopod at what could be considered the bottom of the slab. It comes with an acrylic display stand.

Reference numbers for crinoid identification (red stickers):
#1 - Aorocrinus iola
#2 - Cercidocrinus cirrifer
#7 - Dichocrinus multiplex
#8 - Eretmocrinus tentor

Crinoids, sometimes commonly referred to as sea lilies, are animals, not plants. They are echinoderms related to starfish, sea urchins, and brittle stars. Many crinoid traits are like other members of their phylum; such traits include tube feet, radial symmetry, a water vascular system, and appendages in multiples of five (pentameral). They first appeared in the Ordovician (488 million years ago) and some species are still alive today.

About Crinoids