Salenia Urchin Fossil - Late Cretaceous

This is a fantastically prepared specimen of a Late Cretaceous urchin fossil of the species Salenia nutrix. It was collected near Missour, Morocco and prepared in France.

All of the spines have been prepared individually from the limestone surround the urchin and mounted in a lifelike position on the test (body). These urchins with spines are always composites because the spines break off from the body very quickly after they die. It's a very aesthetically pleasing and impressive fossil.

The scientific description of the Salenia can be found here.