#Cretaceous echinoid fossil

[uk-fossils]

British Chalk Fossil Echinoid - Echinocorys scutata gravesi - Santonian Cretaceous, Broadstairs UK

This listing features a high-quality British Chalk Fossil Echinoid, scientifically known as Echinocorys scutata gravesi. This fossil originates from the Santonian Stage of the Cretaceous Period, and was collected at Broadstairs, Kent, UK, an esteemed locality along the southeastern chalk coast of England.

Taxonomic Classification:

Order: Holasteroida

Superfamily: Echinocorythoidea

Family: Echinocorythidae

Genus and Species: Echinocorys scutata gravesi

Geological Context:

Period: Cretaceous

Stage: Santonian (Late Cretaceous)

Formation: Upper Chalk Formation

Depositional Environment: Marine shelf environment. The chalk was deposited in a warm, shallow sea that covered much of what is now Europe during the Late Cretaceous, composed largely of coccolith-rich calcareous ooze accumulating slowly on the seafloor.

Morphological Features:

A slightly elongated, sub-rectangular to domed test (shell), differing from other Echinocorys morphotypes by its proportion and surface profile

Distinct bilateral symmetry with sunken ambulacra and finely tuberculated surface

Well-defined periproct and peristome features with posterior sloping

Adapted for semi-infaunal life, often found partially buried in carbonate-rich sediment

Notable Significance:

The gravesi morphotype represents a distinct form within the Echinocorys scutata species group and is notable for its specific stratigraphic and geographic distribution.

Used in biostratigraphic zonation and environmental reconstructions of Late Cretaceous chalk seas.

Locality:

Broadstairs, Kent, UK – an important fossil site within the English Upper Chalk exposures, known for producing well-preserved echinoid fossils.

Presentation & Authenticity:

All of our fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. The listing includes actual photographs of the exact specimen you will receive. Please note that the scale cube = 1cm, and full sizing is visible in the photo provided.

This is a carefully chosen, scientifically significant fossil specimen, ideal for collectors, educators, and enthusiasts of British palaeontology and marine Cretaceous life. A unique glimpse into Earth’s ancient seas from over 85 million years ago.

[bluenoo42]

Regular echinoid fossil I found today. It is from the Vectis formation and is around 80 million years old.

See the perfect five-fold symmetry as opposed to the irregular echinoid I posted yesterday.

[clementbenjamin313]

"Unveiling the Ocean's History: Fossils of Ancient Deep-Sea Creatures Dating Back 104 Million Years"

Researchers have uncovered fossil proof indicating that advanced invertebrates, particularly irregular echinoids, also known as sea urchins, have successfully established a stable presence in the deep sea for a minimum of 104 million years, tracing their origins back to the Cretaceous period. By meticulously studying more than 40,000 spine fragments obtained from sediment samples, the scientific…

[awehaven]

Fossil Sea Urchins (echinoids) from the Cretaceous period, discovered along my Life path.

©Robin Fifield.

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

Round Two: Conflicto vs Annakacygna

Conflicto antarcticus

Artwork by @otussketching, written by @zygodactylus

Name Meaning: Contradiction from Antarctica 

Time: 65 million years ago (Danian stage of the Paleocene epoch, Paleogene period) 

Location: Seymour Island, López de Bertodano Formation, Antarctica 

The evolutionary history of the fowl - chickens and ducks - is a controversial one, owing in no small part to the sheer diversity of basal taxa from the Galloanseran group. Existing prior to the end-Cretaceous extinction, Galloanserans went through the same adaptive radiation that everything did following the extinction - leading to a wide disparity of animals that show a weirdly diverse mosaic of traits. Conflicto is one of such taxa. Literally occurring in a fossil formation that tracks the transition from Cretaceous to Paleogene, Conflicto appears on the Paleogene side of the boundary, possibly a direct descendant of other Anseriformes that were present in Antarctica in the latest Cretaceous. But it's survivorship is not, in fact, the weirdest thing about it. Conflicto, despite being a stem-anseriform, and thus early on in the evolution of the group, had a weirdly duck/goose like beak. It was similar in structure to the bill of waterfowl, just not as wide. It also had large nostrils, much wider openings than modern ducks and geese. The problem with this is the fact that the earliest branching-off members of Anseriformes - the Screamers - have chicken-like beaks. As such, the original hypothesis for bill evolution in Anseriformes was that they started with chicken beaks, and later the group composed of geese, ducks, and magpie-geese evolved a spatulate bill the one time. However, Conflicto coming prior to the splitting off of screamers and having such a bill throws this idea into question - and this won’t be the last word on the subject, I assure you. Showcasing a partially-spatulate bill makes Conflicto an important piece of the puzzle of anseriform evolution. In its post-apocalyptic world, Conflicto was surprisingly not alone - living in a temperate to subpolar fern forest, it was able to feast on a wide variety of gastropods, bivalves, worms, and echinoids. When it comes to vertebrates, however, Conflicto was alone - the last survivor of a previously vibrant Cretaceous environment. 

Annakacygna hajimei, A. yoshiiensis

Artwork by @otussketching, written by @zygodactylus

Name Meaning: Swan from Annaka (Hajime’s or of Yoshii-machi) 

Time: 11.5 million years ago (Tortonian stage of the Miocene epoch, Neogene period)

Location: Haraichi Formation, Annaka, Japan

Annakacygna was dubbed during its research “the ultimate bird”, and honestly, I don’t even blame the scientists for doing so - I may have even done the same. Both large species of swan, A. hajimei was about the size of a black swan, and A. yoshiiensis was larger than even the mute swan. They were weird in so many ways it boggles the mind: they were adapted for filter feeding in the water, their wings and tails were so flexible they could form a cradle for their young on their backs like modern mute swangs, said tails and wings were probably great and flashy display structures, its head was extremely large weird looking and had a slightly spoon-like bill, they had wide and heavy vertebrae but still had long and flexible necks, it may have even been a flightless bird or at least a poor flier based on its sternum and coracoids, though its scapula is extremely strong and unlike flightless animals - more research is needed to better understand this aspect of its mobility. That said, it did have very short wing birds, weirdly curved and short among birds, with weirdly shaped finger bones coming together to create weirdly formed curved wings. Its hips were arched up, creating a dip in its back, and it had narrow leg bones, allowing for efficient movement in the water like living *grebes and loons*. So while it had this whole weird display structure with its wings and tail going on, and its robust but long neck, and that strangely boat-shaped body (what the actual f-), it was zooming through the water like a grebe or loon. It had a similar beak to living shovelers, possibly, and it could move its jaw back and forth in a seesaw like motion, not like any living swans. It could then filter food through its jaws via this motion, eating a variety of plankton through soft lamellae within its bill. It was probably very social, given its display structures, and communicated both vocally (imagine the power of those calls with that robust neck) and visually. Annakacygna also took care of its young, extensively, keeping them on their back protected in their wings, to the point that they may not have spent much time on land (like living loons and grebes). It wasn’t a deep diver, but was stable at sea while foraging on food and moving along the surface of the water, living primarily in the ocean. Found in a marine environment, Annakacygna lived with sharks, seals, many kinds of whales, and desmostylians.   

[fossilquest-blog]

Fossil Quest : Central Texas Cretaceous Fossil Finds! Echinoid (Sea Urchin) Loriolia. These tiny round regular urchins are a fairly common in the Glen Rose Formation of Central Texas.

[noirandchocolate]

[G]rowing up on the Chalk as a child means scrabbling about in chalk pits until you are as white as a ghost, crushing lumps of soft chalk on the road to draw big rude words in a blazing white mess, and the exhilaration of finding Cretaceous fossils such as echinoids, which are extinct sea urchins from around 65 million years ago, locally referred to as ‘shepherd’s crowns.’  From his writing, and especially The Wee Free Men, where chalk features to the fore, I now sense that Sir Terry was very familiar with this geology from an early age.  If it can fur up the workings of a kettle, then it must accumulate in the body somewhere; if not in the blood then encrusted around the human element.  The formation of chalk from ‘the shells of billions and billions of tiny, helpless little sea creatures that died millions of years ago,’ to quote from the aforementioned Tiffany Aching volume, is a stunning realization.  Just look at the white cliffs of Dover to measure for yourself the scale of this sedimentation.

--Nick Cowen (taken from “Terry Pratchett: His World”)

(The photo is a view from Knowle Hill down the chalk countryside to Bowerchalke, a village in Wiltshire.)

[earthstory]

wightcoastfossils

Echinoids, echinoids, echinoids these little fossil urchins litter our beaches and are among some of the most common fossils to be found on our island shores!

They date to the late Cretaceous period, a time when Europe lay beneath an open 300m deep ocean, their little lives once played out on the muddy substrate of the ancient seafloor, and 70 million years later we can still find them all around us!

[uk-fossils]

British Chalk Fossil Echinoid - Echinocorys scutata depressula - Santonian Cretaceous, Broadstairs UK

This listing offers a scientifically significant British Chalk Fossil Echinoid, identified as Echinocorys scutata depressula, collected from Broadstairs, Kent, UK. Dating to the Santonian Stage of the Late Cretaceous, this echinoid is a well-preserved relic of ancient marine life found within England’s Upper Chalk sequences.

Taxonomic Classification:

Order: Holasteroida

Superfamily: Echinocorythoidea

Family: Echinocorythidae

Genus & Species: Echinocorys scutata depressula

Geological Context:

Period: Cretaceous

Stage: Santonian (approx. 86–83 million years ago)

Formation: White Chalk Subgroup (likely part of the Seaford Chalk Formation)

Depositional Environment: Calm, warm epicontinental sea with low-energy conditions that favoured the preservation of delicate marine life in fine carbonate sediments.

Morphological Features:

Flattened (depressed) test shape – the defining feature of the depressula form

Bilateral symmetry, smooth tuberculation, and defined apical system

Distinct periproct and peristome regions with posterior sloping

Infaunal, deposit-feeding lifestyle within soft chalky mud

Scientific Importance:

The depressula morphotype represents a particular ecological adaptation or developmental variation within the broader Echinocorys scutata species group

Its occurrence within specific chalk biozones contributes to detailed stratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions of the Late Cretaceous

Locality Information:

Broadstairs, Kent, UK – a notable fossil locality in southeast England, part of the classic White Chalk exposures. The region offers beautifully preserved echinoids, ammonites, and other marine fossils from the Upper Cretaceous.

Presentation & Authenticity:

All of our fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens and are supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity. The images included in this listing show the exact specimen you will receive. Please refer to the photo for full sizing – scale rule cube = 1cm.

This is a hand-picked piece of palaeontological heritage, selected for its clarity of features and preservation quality. Ideal for educational collections, scientific reference, or as a fascinating natural history display.

Own a unique and genuine part of Britain’s ancient seabed – over 80 million years in the making!

[bluenoo42]

Nice late Cretaceous fossil irregular echinoid I found. Image description in alt text.

[fossilquest-blog]

Echinoids and Ammonites, two of my favorite things to find! These are a variety of Texas Cretaceous echies and ammos plus a slab of “rattlesnake rock” (gastropods turitellas in limestone) on the left. 

[uk-fossils]

British Chalk Fossil Echinoid - Echinocorys scutata tectiformis - Cretaceous, Birling Gap UK

Offered here is a superb example of a British Chalk Fossil Echinoid, specifically Echinocorys scutata tectiformis, from the Middle Chalk Formation of the Cretaceous Period. This particular specimen was found at the iconic fossil locality of Birling Gap, Sussex, UK—a well-known section of the southern chalk cliffs of England.

Taxonomic Classification:

Order: Holasteroida

Superfamily: Echinocorythoidea

Family: Echinocorythidae

Genus & Species: Echinocorys scutata tectiformis

Geological Context:

Period: Cretaceous

Stage: Coniacian to Early Campanian

Formation: Middle Chalk

Depositional Environment: Calm, shallow marine shelf. The chalk was deposited in warm, lime-rich seas during the Late Cretaceous, forming thick beds of pure calcium carbonate with abundant microfossils and echinoids.

Morphological Features:

Sub-pyramidal to tent-shaped test (shell), a distinguishing feature of the tectiformis form

Bilaterally symmetrical with a flattened base and raised apex

Strong development of interambulacral plates with granular tubercles

Marked periproct and peristome regions

Adapted for infaunal life, often partially buried in the chalk mud substrate

Notable & Scientific Significance:

Echinocorys scutata tectiformis is a notable morphotype that reflects ecological adaptations within the Echinocorys lineage.

These echinoids are important for biostratigraphy within the Chalk and are often used to help date layers and interpret depositional conditions.

Locality Details:

Location: Birling Gap, near Eastbourne, Sussex, UK

Stratigraphy: Part of the Seaford Chalk Formation within the White Chalk Subgroup, which is richly fossiliferous and provides excellent preservation of echinoderm fauna.

Presentation & Authenticity:

All of our fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. The listing shows images of the actual fossil you will receive. The scale rule squares / cube = 1cm. Full sizing details can be seen in the accompanying photograph.

This is a hand-selected piece, chosen for its preservation, form, and scientific relevance. Ideal for fossil collectors, chalk enthusiasts, educational displays, or anyone interested in Britain’s geological past.

Bring a piece of the Cretaceous seabed into your collection today!

[uk-fossils]

British Chalk Fossil Echinoid - Echinocorys scutata vulgaris - Cretaceous, Seaford UK

Discover a beautifully preserved British Chalk Fossil Echinoid from the Cretaceous Period, identified as Echinocorys scutata vulgaris. This authentic specimen originates from the Middle Chalk Formation, found in Seaford, Sussex, UK.

This echinoid belongs to the:

Order: Holasteroida

Superfamily: Echinocorythoidea

Family: Echinocorythidae

Geological Age & Formation:

Period: Cretaceous

Stage: Coniacian to Campanian (likely Seaford Chalk Formation age)

Depositional Environment: Shallow marine shelf – calm, warm seas rich in carbonate sediments leading to extensive chalk deposits.

Species Details:

Echinocorys scutata vulgaris is a common chalk echinoid with a thick, ovate test (shell) and highly distinctive symmetrical shape, often likened to a biscuit in form. It was an infaunal detritivore, living partially buried in soft carbonate mud and feeding on organic particles within the sediment.

Morphological Features:

Bilateral symmetry with a slightly domed apex

Distinct ambulacral and interambulacral areas

Well-developed periproct and peristome areas

Test is often robust and shows fine tuberculation (preserved in quality specimens)

Locality: Seaford, East Sussex, England – a classic UK locality for chalk fossils. The Seaford Chalk Formation is part of the White Chalk Subgroup.

Notable Facts:

Often referred to as the "Chalk Heart Urchin"

Found in abundance during the Cretaceous in European chalk seas

Helps in biostratigraphic correlation within the chalk sequences of Europe

Fossil Authenticity and Presentation:

All of our fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. This listing includes photographs of the actual fossil specimen you will receive. The scale in the photo is in 1cm squares (scale cube visible), and full sizing details are included in the images.

This specimen has been carefully selected for its preservation and display quality. A fascinating piece for collectors, educators, or anyone with an interest in palaeontology and British geological heritage.

[uk-fossils]

British Chalk Fossil Echinoid - Echinocorys scutata vulgaris - Cretaceous, Seaford UK

Discover a beautifully preserved British Chalk Fossil Echinoid from the Cretaceous Period, identified as Echinocorys scutata vulgaris. This authentic specimen originates from the Middle Chalk Formation, found in Seaford, Sussex, UK.

This echinoid belongs to the:

Order: Holasteroida

Superfamily: Echinocorythoidea

Family: Echinocorythidae

Geological Age & Formation:

Period: Cretaceous

Stage: Coniacian to Campanian (likely Seaford Chalk Formation age)

Depositional Environment: Shallow marine shelf – calm, warm seas rich in carbonate sediments leading to extensive chalk deposits.

Species Details:

Echinocorys scutata vulgaris is a common chalk echinoid with a thick, ovate test (shell) and highly distinctive symmetrical shape, often likened to a biscuit in form. It was an infaunal detritivore, living partially buried in soft carbonate mud and feeding on organic particles within the sediment.

Morphological Features:

Bilateral symmetry with a slightly domed apex

Distinct ambulacral and interambulacral areas

Well-developed periproct and peristome areas

Test is often robust and shows fine tuberculation (preserved in quality specimens)

Locality: Seaford, East Sussex, England – a classic UK locality for chalk fossils. The Seaford Chalk Formation is part of the White Chalk Subgroup.

Notable Facts:

Often referred to as the "Chalk Heart Urchin"

Found in abundance during the Cretaceous in European chalk seas

Helps in biostratigraphic correlation within the chalk sequences of Europe

Fossil Authenticity and Presentation:

All of our fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. This listing includes photographs of the actual fossil specimen you will receive. The scale in the photo is in 1cm squares (scale cube visible), and full sizing details are included in the images.

This specimen has been carefully selected for its preservation and display quality. A fascinating piece for collectors, educators, or anyone with an interest in palaeontology and British geological heritage.

[uk-fossils]

British Chalk Fossil Echinoid - Echinocorys scutata vulgaris - Cretaceous, Seaford UK

Discover a beautifully preserved British Chalk Fossil Echinoid from the Cretaceous Period, identified as Echinocorys scutata vulgaris. This authentic specimen originates from the Middle Chalk Formation, found in Seaford, Sussex, UK.

This echinoid belongs to the:

Order: Holasteroida

Superfamily: Echinocorythoidea

Family: Echinocorythidae

Geological Age & Formation:

Period: Cretaceous

Stage: Coniacian to Campanian (likely Seaford Chalk Formation age)

Depositional Environment: Shallow marine shelf – calm, warm seas rich in carbonate sediments leading to extensive chalk deposits.

Species Details:

Echinocorys scutata vulgaris is a common chalk echinoid with a thick, ovate test (shell) and highly distinctive symmetrical shape, often likened to a biscuit in form. It was an infaunal detritivore, living partially buried in soft carbonate mud and feeding on organic particles within the sediment.

Morphological Features:

Bilateral symmetry with a slightly domed apex

Distinct ambulacral and interambulacral areas

Well-developed periproct and peristome areas

Test is often robust and shows fine tuberculation (preserved in quality specimens)

Locality: Seaford, East Sussex, England – a classic UK locality for chalk fossils. The Seaford Chalk Formation is part of the White Chalk Subgroup.

Notable Facts:

Often referred to as the "Chalk Heart Urchin"

Found in abundance during the Cretaceous in European chalk seas

Helps in biostratigraphic correlation within the chalk sequences of Europe

Fossil Authenticity and Presentation:

All of our fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. This listing includes photographs of the actual fossil specimen you will receive. The scale in the photo is in 1cm squares (scale cube visible), and full sizing details are included in the images.

This specimen has been carefully selected for its preservation and display quality. A fascinating piece for collectors, educators, or anyone with an interest in palaeontology and British geological heritage.

[uk-fossils]

A-Grade British Chalk Fossil Echinoid – Echinocorys scutata striatum | Santonian Upper Chalk Broadstairs Kent UK | Genuine Specimen with COA

This listing features an exceptional A-grade British Chalk fossil echinoid – Echinocorys scutata striatum, collected from the Upper Chalk Formation of the Santonian stage in the Late Cretaceous, at Broadstairs, Kent, UK. This rare and well-preserved subspecies is notable for its subtle yet diagnostic striations that distinguish it from other Echinocorys forms.

Fossil Type: Echinoid (Sea Urchin)

Species/Subspecies: Echinocorys scutata striatum

Geological Period: Late Cretaceous (~86.3 to 83.6 million years ago)

Geological Stage: Santonian

Formation: Upper Chalk (Chalk Group)

Location: Broadstairs, Kent, United Kingdom

Scale Rule: Squares/Cube = 1cm (See photo for full sizing details)

Specimen: You will receive the exact item shown in the photos

Authenticity: All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity

Geological and Paleontological Context

Echinocorys scutata striatum is a subtly ornamented form of the well-known Echinocorys genus, characterised by faint surface striations visible under favourable lighting. This subspecies is found in Santonian chalk beds and reflects evolutionary adaptation to infaunal living in soft sedimentary marine environments.

Phylum: Echinodermata

Class: Echinoidea

Order: Holasteroida

Family: Holasteridae

Genus: Echinocorys

Subspecies: scutata striatum

Depositional Environment: Quiet, shallow marine carbonate platform dominated by coccolith deposition; excellent preservation conditions for echinoids

Morphological Features: Subglobular to slightly domed test with fine striations on the surface, well-formed ambulacral petals, and centrally located periproct and peristome; striations may assist in subspecies-level identification

Biozone: Occurs within established Santonian biostratigraphic intervals; often found alongside inoceramid bivalves and foraminifera used in chalk zonation

Notable: This subspecies is of particular interest for evolutionary and stratigraphic research in Late Cretaceous marine invertebrates

Why This Fossil Is Special

This specimen of Echinocorys scutata striatum is a rare and desirable example from the Kent coast. Its distinct surface ornamentation and strong preservation make it a fine representative of Santonian echinoids, suitable for collectors, researchers, and educational use.

Why Buy From Us?

100% genuine fossil with Certificate of Authenticity

You will receive the exact specimen shown in the listing photos

Ethically collected from reputable geological sites in the UK

Ideal for collectors, educators, museums, or natural history enthusiasts

Bring home a rare and elegant piece of Britain’s fossil heritage with this Echinocorys scutata striatum fossil echinoid from the Upper Chalk of Broadstairs, Kent—a scientifically significant sea urchin from over 85 million years ago.