Lumbricaria and Brittle Star

Fossil Poo and a Brittle Star Too!

Brittle star (left) and Lumbricaria (right)

Magnified view of Lumbricaria with consolidant

Lumbricaria plate before (top) and after (bottom) brittle star prep

Magnified view of brittle star disk (underside)

Magnified view of brittle star arm (underside)

Fossil Type

Cephalopod Coprolite - Lumbricaria

Ichnotaxa

Lumbricaria intestinum

Composition

Calcite

Formation

Solnhofen Limestone

Period

Jurassic - Kimmeridgian

Dimensions

Approx. 1.5 - 1.7 mm cord dia.

A faint star shape was present to the left of the tangled, stringy coprolite. After a little prep work, the underside of a juvenile brittle star (Sinosura ophiuroid) was revealed. Unfortunately the coprolite was treated with a consolidant, so it is impossible to tell if there are any inclusions. Remember: NEVER USE GLUE ON FOSSIL POO!

A big thank you to members of The Fossil Forum for identifying the brittle star! I thought I was looking at a beefy floating crinoid.

Gallery

Anal Abstracts