Fine Gogia Middle Cambrian Utah Eocrinoid

Description: Coming from the Cambrian Wheeler Formation deposits of Millard County, Utah, this is a specimen of Gogia spiralis, a member of the Class Eocrinoidea. Eocrinoids (“dawn crinoids”), were among the earliest groups of Echinoderms. They had a vase-shaped body (calyx), covered by plates that were symmetrical and had a bifurcated brachiole, a slender arm-like structure for food-gathering that closely resembled those in cystoids. The early Eocrinoids were attached to the bottom by a thick holdfast. Later members had an elongated stalk much like the true crinoids which evolved later. Gogia displayed an interesting ontogenic feature related to its arms. Once Gogia matured past the 4-armed stage (the species derives its name from the spiraled arms), they added arms in such a way as to have an odd-numbered total.