Crinoidea indet.

Crinoidea indet.

Higher-taxon identificationIdentified to: Class
Common name Indeterminate Crinoid
Fossil group Echinoderms

Summary

This record is used for crinoid ossicles that can be recognised as belonging to a crinoid but cannot be assigned confidently to an order, family, genus or species. Isolated stem columnals and small skeletal plates are particularly likely to remain at this level.

Quick Identification

Look for: small disc-, star- or polygon-shaped calcite pieces, especially stem columnals with a central hole and repeated radial patterns. Several similar discs may originally have stacked together to form the crinoid stem.

Identification Features

  • Stem columnals are commonly circular, pentagonal or star-shaped in outline.
  • A central lumen or canal is frequently present through individual stem columnals.
  • Articular faces may carry radial ridges, petals, crenulations or other repeating symmetry.
  • Columnals can occur as isolated discs or as short articulated stacks forming part of the stem.
  • Calyx and arm ossicles are calcitic plates with regular stereom texture and may preserve grooves or facets for articulation.

Recorded Fossil Sites

Last Reviewed
18 August 2026 Reviewed by Sam Harris