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Eupatagus Fossil Sea Urchin Pleistocene Florida USA Genuine Echinoid Specimen with Certificate of Authenticity

Eupatagus Fossil Sea Urchin Pleistocene Florida USA Genuine Echinoid Specimen with Certificate of Authenticity

Original price was: £14.40.Current price is: £10.08.

All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity

**Please note: Some Minerals maybe propped up for photo purposes**

Specimen: Eupatagus sp

Genus: Echinoid

Age: Pleistocene

Location: Florida, USA

Size (picture scale cube=1cm):   50 x 43 x 22mm (1.97 x 1.69 x 0.87 inches)

ACTUAL AS SEEN: The image shows the EXACT specimen you will receive. The specimen has been carefully hand selected and photographed. Measurements are as accurate as possible, though be aware measuring precise dimensions can be difficult from irregular shaped items. Whilst we portray colours as close to life-like as we can, colours will vary if taken in sunlight, indoors, from monitor to monitor and device to device. Once this specimen is sold, we will update this listing with new similar selected item, with a new photo and dimensions.

 

What is a fossil?

The word Fossil used to be defined as ‘something dug up’. Now-a-days it generally means ‘The remains or trace evidence of prehistoric life’. The study of fossils is called palaeontology; someone who collects and studies them is called a palaeontologists. Fossils can be as tiny as a grain of pollen or a seed for e.g. or as huge as a limb bone from a giant dinosaur. For animal or plant remains to have become ‘fossilised ‘, they must go through a certain process that preserves them for up to millions of years after they have died. Usually it is only the hard parts of plants and animals that survive this long process.

How Fossils Formed

 

The most common method of how fossils formed is once an animal or plant dies, it falls to the ground, and is covered by sediment. This is often sediments brought from water. In the diagram above, the ammonite died in a river, and sediments over time covered the ammonite (shown in the second diagram). Finally after hundreds of thousands, or millions of years, the land is eroded and the fossil can be seen.

Of the vast amount of prehistoric life that died, it is only a tiny amount that has survived the fossilisation process. The conditions when the majority of life died were just not right at that time, to preserve them. Most fossils are found in sedimentary rocks which were formed from the sediments of rivers, lakes and seas. The majority of the animal and plant fossils we find today, had originally died near these areas, got broken up and deposited on the beds of the rivers, lakes and seas. The sediments covered them and over time some of the layers grew so thick that many of them got crushed. The sediments compacted and over time and turned to rock. The rocks shifted, moved and became exposed to the elements. This process can take up to several hundred million years. Now as the rocks erode or are quarried for example the fossils become exposed and can be collected.

The Best conditions for Fossilisation

1. The quick burial of animal remains in moist sediments. This prevents scavengers from eating and bacteria from decaying them.

2. The quick burial in volcanic ash. Many dinosaur bones in the American west have been found buried in volcanic ash.

3. The presence of hard body or plant parts, teeth, bones, shell and wood for example.

4. Unchanging temperature conditions.

5. Ground water that is heavily mineralised.

6. Sediments that are very fine make a better burial than coarser gravels.

7. Calm conditions, so that remains are not broken up (by wave or currant action for example)

(Actual as seen)

Only 1 left in stock

SKU: FP9534 Category:

Description

Genuine Eupatagus Fossil Echinoid – Pleistocene, Florida, USA

This authentic Eupatagus sp fossil sea urchin originates from the Pleistocene deposits of Florida, USA. Carefully selected for quality and preservation, this is the exact specimen you will receive, as shown in the photographs. Each fossil comes complete with a Certificate of Authenticity featuring a lifetime guarantee, confirming its genuine natural origin.

Fossil Identification & Classification

Eupatagus is an extinct genus of irregular echinoids (heart urchins) belonging to the order Spatangoida and family Eupatagidae. These echinoids are closely related to modern heart urchins and are characterised by their adapted burrowing lifestyle within soft marine sediments.

Unlike regular sea urchins, Eupatagus displays a bilaterally symmetrical body plan, reflecting its specialised ecological role. Its morphology represents a highly evolved form of echinoid adapted for life beneath the seafloor.

Geological Age & Depositional Environment

Dating to the Pleistocene epoch (approximately 2.58 million to 11,700 years ago), this fossil formed during a time of significant climatic fluctuation and changing sea levels. Florida’s fossil-bearing deposits from this period are typically associated with shallow marine environments, including sandy seabeds and coastal shelf settings.

Eupatagus lived partially buried within these sediments, using its specialised anatomy to move through and feed within the substrate. The fossilisation process preserved the durable test (shell), allowing fine structural details to remain visible today.

Morphology & Notable Features

This specimen exhibits the classic characteristics of a Eupatagus echinoid, including:

  • A flattened, heart-shaped test adapted for burrowing
  • Distinct petaloid ambulacra (flower-like patterns on the upper surface) used for respiration
  • A clearly defined anterior groove, aiding sediment processing
  • Fine surface ornamentation reflecting the original plate structure

These features not only enhance its visual appeal but also provide insight into the functional biology of the organism. The streamlined shape allowed Eupatagus to efficiently navigate soft substrates while avoiding predators.

Ecology & Lifestyle

Eupatagus was a deposit feeder, consuming organic-rich sediments as it burrowed beneath the seafloor. Using specialised tube feet and spines, it transported food particles toward its mouth while maintaining a stable position within the sediment.

Its lifestyle contributed to bioturbation, the process of sediment mixing, which played an important role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. Fossils such as this provide valuable evidence of ancient marine environments and ecological interactions.

Preservation & Display Quality

This fossil has been carefully chosen for its excellent preservation and natural detail, making it an ideal display piece for collectors and enthusiasts. The visible structural features and natural form make it both educational and aesthetically appealing.

  • 100% genuine fossil specimen
  • Includes Certificate of Authenticity (lifetime guarantee)
  • Exact specimen shown in photos
  • Full sizing available in images for accurate scale

A Distinctive Fossil for Collectors

Eupatagus fossils are sought after for their distinctive shape and well-preserved features. Their connection to ancient marine ecosystems and their specialised adaptations make them particularly interesting to collectors of echinoids and invertebrate fossils.

This Pleistocene Eupatagus specimen from Florida offers a tangible connection to prehistoric marine life, making it a valuable addition to any fossil collection or natural history display.

Additional information

Weight 50 g
Era

Pleistocene
Origin

USA

Pleistocene Information

The Pleistocene Epoch (2.58 million – 11,700 years ago) was a time of repeated ice ages, shaping Earth's landscapes and ecosystems. Massive glaciers advanced and retreated, covering large parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. This period saw the rise of megafauna, including woolly mammoths, saber-toothed cats, giant ground sloths, and cave bears. Early humans (Homo erectus, Neanderthals, and Homo sapiens) spread across the world, developing tools, art, and early societies. Many species adapted to harsh, cold climates, but as the Ice Age ended, global warming and human hunting contributed to the extinction of many large mammals. The Pleistocene transitions into the Holocene, the current epoch, marking the beginning of human civilization.

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