{"product_id":"polished-echinoid-fossil-21719","title":"Polished Echinoid Fossil 7.2cm","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"243\"\u003eThis 7.2cm long \u003cstrong data-start=\"3\" data-end=\"38\"\u003eechinoid fossil from Madagascar\u003c\/strong\u003e is a fossilised sea urchin—part of the class \u003cem data-start=\"84\" data-end=\"96\"\u003eEchinoidea\u003c\/em\u003e, a group of marine animals with hard calcite shells that preserve very well in sedimentary rock. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"w35px5\" data-start=\"245\" data-end=\"261\"\u003eWhat they are\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"262\" data-end=\"614\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1xtchnc\" data-start=\"262\" data-end=\"343\"\u003eEchinoids are \u003cstrong data-start=\"278\" data-end=\"310\"\u003esea urchins and sand dollars\u003c\/strong\u003e that lived on ancient seabeds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1lg3fs8\" data-start=\"344\" data-end=\"483\"\u003eTheir fossils typically show a \u003cstrong data-start=\"377\" data-end=\"414\"\u003efive-petalled (star-like) pattern\u003c\/strong\u003e from their tube-foot system. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"j6bael\" data-start=\"616\" data-end=\"654\"\u003eWhy Madagascar specimens are common\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"655\" data-end=\"850\"\u003eMadagascar is a well-known fossil locality because of its \u003cstrong data-start=\"713\" data-end=\"765\"\u003emarine sedimentary rocks (limestones and chalks)\u003c\/strong\u003e that preserve echinoids in excellent detail. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"852\" data-end=\"890\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge\u003c\/strong\u003e for this madagascan\u003cstrong\u003e pygurus echinoid\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"891\" data-end=\"1204\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"v4u0fz\" data-start=\"891\" data-end=\"987\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"893\" data-end=\"930\"\u003eJurassic (~150 million years ago)\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"15q9sec\" data-start=\"1206\" data-end=\"1241\"\u003eCommon Madagascar echinoid types\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1242\" data-end=\"1259\"\u003eYou’ll often see:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"1260\" data-end=\"1545\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"f6l9lb\" data-start=\"1260\" data-end=\"1323\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"1262\" data-end=\"1293\"\u003eHeart urchins (Spatangoids)\u003c\/strong\u003e – oval\/heart-shaped fossils\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1wm3jlu\" data-start=\"1324\" data-end=\"1430\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"1326\" data-end=\"1342\"\u003eSand dollars\u003c\/strong\u003e – flattened, disc-like forms (e.g. \u003cem data-start=\"1378\" data-end=\"1389\"\u003eMepygurus\u003c\/em\u003e) \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"kxrkjj\" data-start=\"1431\" data-end=\"1545\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"1433\" data-end=\"1469\"\u003eRegular urchins (e.g. \u003cem data-start=\"1457\" data-end=\"1466\"\u003ePygurus\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/strong\u003e – more rounded with radial symmetry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"1mggrcz\" data-start=\"1679\" data-end=\"1701\"\u003eWhat they look like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1702\" data-end=\"1719\"\u003eTypical features:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"1720\" data-end=\"1896\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"3trhu0\" data-start=\"1720\" data-end=\"1765\"\u003eSymmetrical star or flower pattern on top\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"7oo1pe\" data-start=\"1766\" data-end=\"1797\"\u003eSmall pores (for tube feet)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"d32o2i\" data-start=\"1798\" data-end=\"1849\"\u003eSometimes polished to reveal internal structure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e      Product Reference Number :21719\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"2158\" data-end=\"2161\"\u003e","brand":"Madagascan Direct","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54076438053204,"sku":"21719","price":15.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/5766\/9716\/files\/echinoid-fossil-217191.jpg?v=1775057087","url":"https:\/\/www.madagascandirect.com\/products\/polished-echinoid-fossil-21719","provider":"Madagascan Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}