Marine Fossils

Crinoids usually do not preserve the delicate flower parts or calyx. Usually only pieces of the stalk is preserved, because crinoids are so easily disarticulated. However, there are numerous calyx preserved in the Solnhofen Limestone, further support for calm waters. Only one sessile (immobile) crinoid has ever been found at Solnhofen Limestone, the rest have been mobile or free-swimming.

	A crinoid, Pterocoma pennata (Goldfuss), (modified from Barthel et. al., 1990).
	Another crinoid, Saccocoma pectinata Goldfuss, with the delicate hairs preserved on the arms. The distance between arms is 40 mm (modified from saccocoma.gif).
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