Unique Cambrian Dawn Crinoid Trilobite Brachiopod Association


Gogia spiralis

Phylum Echinodermata, Subphylum Blastozoa, Class Eocrinoidea (also called Dawn Crinoid, or Eocrinoid)

Bolaspidella housensis

Trilobita Order Ptychopariida, Family Menomoniidae

Geological Time: Middle Cambrian

Size: Matrix 65mm for perspective, Bolaspidella 9 mm, brachiopods 2 mm

Fossil Site: Wheeler Shale, Millard County, Utah


Gogia is Cambrian cystoid that is among the earliest and most primitive groups of echinoderms. For this reason they are sometimes called a "dawn crinoids". They had a vase-shaped body (calyx), covered by plates that were symmetrical and have a bifurcated brachiole, a slender arm-like structure for food-gathering that closely resembled those in cystoids.

This association plate contains three complete dawn crinoids, in addition to a Bolaspidella housensis trilobite and a few tiny brachiopods, three distinct marine creatures coming out of the Cambrian explosion.

Also see: Utah Cambrian Explosion Fossils

click fossil pictures to enlarge


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