Gaurocrinus fimbriatus
GRI #594
This sea lily was found in Quebec, Canada, on Anticosti island, located in the Gulf of St Lawrence. It had a long stem that held the cup-like calyx above the substrate, where it could filter particles from the water. The arms of the crinoid formed a dense fan that allowed it to live where the water was moving quickly. This species is found only in Ordovician rocks of Quebec, and a similar species is known from Ordovician rocks of Ohio, USA. It is classified in the order Diplobathrida, one of about 14 orders that appear in Ordovician rocks. No crinoids have been found in Cambrian sediments, and the appearance of so many orders in Ordovician rocks is an example of disparity before diversity.
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