4.2" Wide Urchin (Asterocidaris) Fossil - Jurassic

This is a fantastically prepared specimen of the Middle Jurassic urchin fossil of the species Asterocidaris bistriata. It comes from Boulemane, Morocco.

All of the spines have been prepared individually from the limestone it was found in and mounted in a lifelike position. These urchins with spines are always composites because the spines break off from the body very quickly after they die. It's a very aesthetically pleasing and impressive fossil.

The scientific description of the Gymnocidaris can be found here.