Rare Free-Swimming Crinoid Comaturella from Lebanon

Description: This is an exquisitely preserved example of a free-swimming, stemless crinoid from the Cretaceous Sublithographic Limestone of Haqel, Lebanon, known as Comaturella. The genus has been called Pterocoma , but that genus is preoccupied by a genus of insects established in 1834. The elongated pinnules seem to be an adaptation to a low current environment. The long pinnules would be better able to filter out the limited food supplies, giving this crinoid an advantage over others. The genus was quite long-lived in that it was found in the Jurassic deposits of Solnhofen, Germany. There is a second partial example found in the upper left of the plaque. Examples of crinoids from the Cenomanian (95 million year old) deposits of Lebanon are not readily available, making this a unique opportunity to enhance a collection of crinoids.