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The First and Last Crinoid Fossils

Many fragmented crinoid fossils are found in limestone beds from around the middle part of the Paleozoic era to the end. From the abundance of crinoid fossils found in limestone beds it is clear that crinoids were much more common in the Paleozoic than they are in modern times. It is thought that the first crinoids came about during the Ordovician and are descendants of more ancient echinoderms called Eocystoids. There is only one crinoid subclass left in modern times out of about 10 subclasses. All other crinoids are now extinct and can only be examined through their unusual fossils. Since the first crinoids evolved, about 5,000 species of crinoid fossils have been discovered. The only subclass of crinoids left is known as the Articulata. The Crinoidea is a class in Articulata with about 600 species living today. These crinoids are commonly found on coral reefs although some live in deeper waters.

   

Ammonite Fossil
Animal Fossils
Crinoid Fossils
Fish Fossils
Fossil Teeth
Petrified Wood
Plant Fossils
Trilobite Fossils
State Fossil Information


Wooly Mammoth
Saber Tooth Cat

Dinosaur Eggs
Dinosaur Footprints
Dinosaur Bones
Tyrannosaurus rex

Agate Fossil Beds
Burgess Shale
Dinosaur National Monument
Florissant Fossil Beds
Fossil Butte National Monument
Green River Shale
Hagermann Fossil Beds
John Day Fossil Beds
La Brea Tar Pits
Mississippi Petrified Forest
Morrision Formation
Petrified Forest National Park