Crinoids
Crinoids belong to the Phylum (Echinodermata). Like all echinoderms the have a radial symmetry of five. Mostly only small parts of stems are found. Crinoids are also called sea lilies. At present they are very rare in shallow waters, but in the paleozoic they where as common as other "echinoderms" like starfishes and sea urchins  . Crinoids lived normally on the seafloor where they used there heads to filter food particles from the water. The more recent forms are free swimming, and not attached to the seafloor.
They occur in sediments from the Ordovician period until recent. In Paleozoic sediments they are very abundant.
Mostly only the stems are found. The heads are quite rare. The stems fall apart in slices after the death of the animal. Sometimes thick deposits were formed with crinoid parts.
Examples of crinoid stems.
 Click here for information where to find these fossils.
 Go to the Photo page to view photographs of Crinoids. |
