Crinoid Fossil wall plate

This outstanding fossilised skeleton is that of the ancestral crocodile species Steneosaurus bollensis that lived during the early Jurassic period. The skeleton, complete with armoured plates, has been exquisitely preserved and recovered from the Holzmaden Oil Shale of south Germany. The crocodile was once buried in fine, muddy sediment 195 million years ago at the bottom of the Tethys Ocean, which once existed between Europe and Africa. The calm, deep water provided a rare anoxic (without oxygen) environment, which prevented the skeleton from any significant decomposition before burial. The mud has since been compressed into oil shale, leaving the immense skeleton completely in-tact. This specimen is one of the few skeletons of Steneosaurus bollensis ever to be discovered. We can deduce much about the life of this reptile from the size and perfect preservation of the piece. Similar to present-day crocodiles, we can see that the two front limbs of the Steneosaurus are much shorter than the back two. This indicates that crocodile ancestors were bipedal; indeed, we believe that crocodiles evolved from the same reptile species as the dinosaurs and airborne pterosaurs. Dinosaurs ruled the lands during the late Triassic and early Jurassic. This made terrestrial life increasingly difficult for ancestral crocodiles, as there were many predators and prey was scarce. However, the seas were rich in fish, shellfish, starfish, crabs, squid… You can even see fossil belemnite guards (bullet shells of squid-like organisms) and the beautiful spiral shells of ammonites preserved around the crocodile skeleton...

United Kingdom Ammonite plate.   

About Dale Rogers. Since 1986 Dale has been sourcing the most unique fossils and minerals from around the world and through his company Dale Rogers Ammonite...

Ammonites are perhaps the most widely known fossil. These creatures lived in the seas between 240 - 65 million years ago, when they became extinct along with the dinosaurs. This lar...

An exceptional fossilized dragonfly from Solnhofen in Germany. This wonderful specimen dates 150 Million Years old making it the ultimate conversatio...

Giant Mounted Gypsum Minerals Cluster from China

Crinoids, commonly known as sea lilies and are members of the Echinodermata phylum along with starfish and sea urchins. This particular Crinoid plate fossil i...

Another large Crinoid fossil from our collection. Crinoids are more commonly known as sea lilies and are members of the Echinodermata phylum with the st...

This impressive and unique sculpture transforms a highly rare fossiliferous crinoid marble specimen into a stunning sculpted herd of wild horses. Crafted in the 20th century, the rem...

Crinoids, also known as sea lilies, are members of the Echinodermata phylum along with starfish and sea urchins. This well preserved sea fossil is from Morocco. Crinoids have the app...

60-Pound fossil plate, with three stunning, fossilized Diplomytus fish in their natural matrix. Towards the right side of this piece, there is a beautiful...

Deneb Plate sculpted from a solid piece of Jurassic Marble, with Nerineas fossils, in raw finish. Designed by AINA and manufactured by NERINEA in our factory located in Valencia (Spain). All Aina’s products are delivered with a certificate of material authenticity. Let us tell you the story of the Jurassic Fossil...