Protothyraster, Middle Cretaceous, Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Starfish, like their fellow echinoderms, the sea lilies, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers, are readily recognizable by their five-sided exoskeletons composed of porous calcareous plates. In some species of starfish, these plates are fused together, whereas in others, like the specimen in this picture, they are loosely articulated.
Dimensions: 20 1/8" x 16 1/4"
About the Ancient Microworlds collection:
This piece is part of a collection of several dozen framed high-magnification prints of fossils, as seen in the book, Ancient Microworlds by Giraud Foster and Norman Barker (2000).
Foster and Barker worked together for 12 years to create this collection, which ultimately led to a photography exhibit that shattered the barrier between science and art. They used custom light-scanning macrographic equipment to capture the rich patterns and colors of the fossilized organisms.
The exhibit travelled the country, and was last on display in the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, NY from June to September 2015.
Note: This item is greener than it appears.
FOR PICKUP ONLY AT MUSEUM OF THE EARTH