Ophiura wetherelli
Eocene
Tuscany, Italy
Specimen 01
BRITTLE STAR FOSSIL Ophiura wetherelli Starfish Fossils
Item number: 350123531500
bid: US $358.61
Ended: Nov-20-08 19:28:00 PST
Winning bidder: e***y
Seller: fossilfarm-uk
Brittle Star Fossil
Multi Ophiura wetherelli specimen from Italy
Up for auction here is a superb multi Brittle Star assemlage from the Eocene of Tuscany, Italy (approx. 45,000,000 years old). An exceptionally rare piece with 7 specimens on a single plate, with several other species. A good solid slab measuring 11.5″ x 10″ x 2.5″. As the photos show, wonderful preservation and detail throughout. (Please conact us if you require any more pictures).
We acquired 2 collections of fossils a short while ago and amongst them were some choice material which we are now listing here on eBay… I have never seen another fossil like this on Ebay before!
Brittle stars are echinoderms, possessing a skeleton of Calcium carbonate (calcite), allowing for spectacularly accurate preservation during fossilization. Their hard outer skeleton aided their habitation of very deep water, often in excess of 500m… More information on these fascnating ancient creatures can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittle_star
Posted by Giuseppe Buono 
