4.2" Detailed Ordovician Brittle Star (Ophiura) - Morocco

This is a detailed 4.2" wide fossil brittle star, Ophiura sp., from the Kataoua Formation of Morocco. It is Ordovician in age, approximately 450 million years old. The brittle star is nicely preserved on its natural matrix, with the central disc and slender, radiating arms clearly visible. The orange coloration is natural and is caused by the oxidation of iron pyrite within the fossil-bearing rock.

Brittle stars are echinoderms, making them relatives of starfish, sea urchins, and crinoids. Unlike true starfish, brittle stars typically have long, flexible arms that are sharply distinct from the central body disc. They use these arms to move across the seafloor, capture food particles, and interact with their environment. Fossil brittle stars are much less commonly encountered than many other marine fossils because their delicate skeletons are prone to disarticulation after death, making well-preserved examples especially desirable.

The Kataoua Formation of Morocco is known for producing exceptional Ordovician marine fossils, including echinoderms, trilobites, and other seafloor-dwelling organisms. This specimen offers a striking look at an ancient brittle star from a marine ecosystem that existed roughly 450 million years ago.

It comes with an acrylic display stand.