This is a photo of the common blastoid P entremitс. Blastoids somewhat rсemble their relativс, the crinoids.
Richard Gross
E chinodermsare interesting to the fossil collector as there are more identified fossil (extinct) species than living (extant) species. Both the 6,500 plus living species and the 14,000 plus fossil species are marine. Fossil echinoderms give clues to the ancient past including the depth and conditions where they lived. Echinoderms are more closely related to the higher forms of life than any of the other invertebrates.