Polished Echinoid Fossil 8cm

This 8.2cm wide echinoid fossil from Madagascar is a fossilised sea urchin—part of the class Echinoidea, a group of marine animals with hard calcite shells that preserve very well in sedimentary rock.

What they are

• Echinoids are sea urchins and sand dollars that lived on ancient seabeds.
• Their fossils typically show a five-petalled (star-like) pattern from their tube-foot system.

Why Madagascar specimens are common

Madagascar is a well-known fossil locality because of its marine sedimentary rocks (limestones and chalks) that preserve echinoids in excellent detail.

Age for this madagascan pygurus echinoid

• Jurassic (~150 million years ago) 

Common Madagascar echinoid types

You’ll often see:

• Heart urchins (Spatangoids) – oval/heart-shaped fossils
• Sand dollars – flattened, disc-like forms (e.g. Mepygurus)
• Regular urchins (e.g. Pygurus) – more rounded with radial symmetry

From fossil collectors online:

“A lot of fossilized [sand dollars] come from Madagascar”

What they look like

Typical features:

• Symmetrical star or flower pattern on top
• Small pores (for tube feet)
• Sometimes polished to reveal internal structure

      Product Reference Number :21690