Description
This listing offers a genuine Eupatagus antillarum fossil echinoid, collected from Levy County, Florida, USA, and dating to the Eocene epoch, around 40–34 million years ago. This fossil is an excellent example of the heart urchins that thrived in subtropical marine environments during the Paleogene period.
The specimen shown in the photographs is the actual one you will receive, with a scale cube of 1 cm provided for accurate sizing. As with all of our fossils, this echinoid is 100% authentic and will be delivered with a Certificate of Authenticity for complete confidence in its provenance.
Geological Context: Eocene of Florida
During the Eocene epoch, Florida was largely submerged beneath warm, shallow seas that formed part of the Gulf Coastal Plain. These marine conditions fostered rich ecosystems dominated by molluscs, corals, echinoids, and other invertebrates. Fossils from this region are preserved in limestone and marl deposits that formed in tropical carbonate platforms.
Levy County is a well-known source of high-quality Eocene fossils, where the sediments capture a snapshot of marine biodiversity during a critical period of Earth’s history, following the extinction of the dinosaurs and during the rise of modern marine ecosystems.
The Species: Eupatagus antillarum
Eupatagus antillarum is an extinct echinoid belonging to the phylum Echinodermata, class Echinoidea, order Spatangoida, and family Loveniidae. It is part of a group of irregular echinoids often referred to as “heart urchins” due to their characteristic shape.
Key features of Eupatagus antillarum include:
- An elongate, heart-shaped test (shell) with clear bilateral symmetry.
- A flattened ventral surface adapted for burrowing.
- Petaloid ambulacra arranged on the upper surface, used for respiration and water circulation.
- Paired pore structures for tube feet, which aided in gas exchange.
These adaptations reveal a lifestyle of shallow infaunal burrowing, where the animal lived just beneath the seafloor, feeding as a detritivore by processing sediment for organic matter.
Morphological and Scientific Features
- Phylum: Echinodermata
- Class: Echinoidea
- Order: Spatangoida
- Family: Loveniidae
- Genus: Eupatagus
- Species: Eupatagus antillarum
- Geological Age: Eocene (c. 40–34 Ma)
- Locality: Levy County, Florida, USA
- Preservation: Limestone and marl matrix preservation, retaining natural structural detail
- Lifestyle: Infaunal burrower and sediment feeder
- Scientific Importance: Useful for paleoenvironmental studies of Eocene carbonate platforms
Collector and Display Value
This Eupatagus antillarum fossil echinoid is a highly desirable specimen for collectors of echinoderms and Eocene fossils. Its distinctive heart-shaped test and excellent preservation make it a striking display piece, while its provenance from Florida adds regional and historical significance.
As a genuine fossil from the Eocene epoch, this specimen not only represents an ancient marine creature but also serves as a fascinating link to the paleoenvironments that shaped the early Cenozoic era. Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity, this fossil is an ideal addition to any natural history collection, educational setting, or private display.
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