RARE Gogia Eocrinoid Top View

Coming from the Cambrian Wheeler Formation deposits of Millard County, Utah this is a fine example 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. This is a fine mature example. 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. What is most unusual here, is that it was preserved in such a way that you are looking down from above, showing the oral structure in the center and the arms arrayed out to all points of the compass. In over 200 examples, this is the FIRST I have seen preserved in this fashion.