Fossils for Sale - High-quality BRITISH and WORLDWIDE Fossils. An impressive selection of fossils, including Ammonites, Trilobites, Belemnites, Fossil Fish, Fossil Shark Teeth, Fossilised Insects in Amber, Dinosaurs, and Reptiles. UK Fossils was formed in 1988 and collects and preps our own fossils in the heart of the Jurassic Coast, collecting fossils from Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Somerset. Our passion for fossils is reflected in our carefully curated collection, which includes some of the rarest and most unique specimens available.

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Other World Echinoids

World Fossil Echinoids: A Global Journey Through Time and Spines

Echinoids—commonly known as sea urchins, sand dollars, and heart urchins—are one of the most abundant and diverse echinoderms in the fossil record. With a history stretching back over 450 million years, fossil echinoids have been discovered on every continent, providing valuable insights into ancient marine ecosystems and evolutionary trends.

What Are Echinoids?

Echinoids are marine animals belonging to the phylum Echinodermata. Their hard, calcified exoskeletons—called tests—preserve well as fossils, often showcasing intricate patterns, tubercles, and spines. There are two major types:

Regular echinoids – Radially symmetrical with a round shape, often covered in spines.

Irregular echinoids – Bilaterally symmetrical, adapted for burrowing, including heart urchins and sand dollars.

A Fossil Record That Spans the Globe

Fossil echinoids have been found in rock formations from the Ordovician to the present, offering a continuous and well-preserved record of marine life.

Europe

United Kingdom: Famous for Jurassic and Cretaceous echinoids such as Clypeus, Micraster, and Echinocorys.

France: Notable sites include the Paris Basin, yielding beautifully preserved Cretaceous sand dollars and heart urchins.

North America

USA: From the echinoid-rich limestones of Texas and Florida to Miocene and Pliocene Dendrasterid sand dollars on the west coast.

Canada: Fossils found in Cretaceous formations in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Africa

Morocco: Renowned for beautifully preserved echinoids from the Cretaceous and Eocene.

Egypt: Fossils of heart urchins and other echinoids found in the limestone of the Western Desert.

Asia

India and Pakistan: Cretaceous and Eocene echinoids found in marine sedimentary deposits.

China and Japan: Sites containing Jurassic and Cretaceous echinoid assemblages.

Australia & Oceania

Fossils include both regular and irregular echinoids in Cretaceous and Tertiary rocks across New South Wales, Queensland, and New Zealand.

South America

Notable discoveries in Argentina and Peru, particularly from the Cretaceous and Miocene periods.

Evolution and Importance

Echinoids evolved complex forms over time, with many adapting to changing sea levels, substrates, and ecological niches. Their widespread fossil distribution and rapid evolutionary changes make them excellent biostratigraphic indicators, helping geologists date rock layers.

Collector and Educational Appeal

Due to their symmetry and variation, fossil echinoids are popular with collectors and educators alike. Whether a spiny regular urchin or a smooth heart urchin, each fossil tells a story of adaptation, survival, and ancient oceans.

From Europe’s chalk cliffs to the sands of Morocco and California’s coastal rock, fossil echinoids connect us to a vast, underwater past. They’re more than just beautiful fossils—they’re time travelers in stone, tracing the evolution of life across ancient seas worldwide.