Fossil Crinoids

Crinoids have graced the oceans for more than 500 million years. Among the most attractive fossils, crinoids had a key role in the ecology of marine communities through much of the fossil record, and their remains are prominent rock forming constituents of many limestones. This is the first comprehensive volume which brings together their form and function, classification, evolutionary history, occurrence, preservation and ecology. The main part of the book is devoted to assemblages of intact fossil crinoids, which are described in their geological setting in 23 chapters ranging from the Ordovician to the Tertiary. The final chapter deals with living sea lilies and feather stars. The volume is exquisitely illustrated with abundant photographs and line drawings of crinoids from sites around the world. This authoritative account recreates a fascinating picture of fossil crinoids for palaeontologists, geologists, evolutionary and marine biologists, ecologists and amateur fossil collectors.

Table of Contents:
Prelude; Introduction; 1. Crinoid form and function; 2. Systematics, phylogeny and evolutionary history; 3. Fossil occurrence; 4. Taphonomy; 5. Ecology and ecological interactions; 6. Middle Ordovician Trenton Group of New York, USA; 7. Middle Ordovician of the Lake Simcoe area of Ontario, Canada; 8. Upper Ordovician of the Cincinnati, Ohio area, USA; 9. Silurian of Gotland, Sweden; 10. Middle Silurian Rochester Shale of western New York, USA, and southern Ontario, Canada; 11. Scyphocrinitids from the Silurian-Devonian boundary of Morocco; 12. Lower Devonian Manlius/Coeymans Formation of central New York, USA; 13. Lower Devonian Hunsrück Slates of Germany; 14. Middle Devonian Windom Shale of Vincent, New York, USA; 15. Middle Devonian Arkona Shale of Ontario and Silica Shale of Ohio, USA; 16. Lower Mississippian Hampton Formation at LeGrand, Iowa, USA; 17. Lower Mississippian Burlington Limestone along the Mississippi Valley in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri, USA; 18. Lower Mississippian Edwardsville Formation at Crawfordsville, Indiana, USA; 19. Upper Pennsylvania LaSalle Member, Bond Formation of central Illinois, USA; 20. Permian; 21. Triassic Muschelkalk of central Europe; 22. Pentacrinites from the Lower Jurassic of the Dorset coast of southern England; 23. Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shales of southern Germany; 24. Middle Jurassic of southern England; 25. Middle Jurassic of northern Switzerland; 26. Upper Jurassic Solnhofen Plattenkalk of Bavaria, Germany; 27. Uintacrinus beds of the Upper Cretaceous Niobrara formation, Kansas, USA; 28. Tertiary; 29. Recent; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.

Review :
'… a veritable feast that will satisfy starving crinoid lovers the world over. The book is stunning in appearance and authoritative in its treatment. Fossil Crinoids is certain to be popular and useful to a wide variety of readers. There is no comparable work on crinoids that so concisely introduces crinoid paleontology and the rich fossil record of the group … an excellent sourcebook for both professional paleontologists conducting research, as well as for collectors.' American Paleontologist 'What an attractive book! … fossils are a pleasure to look at and when they are as well photographed or drawn as these are they are irresistible.' Geology Today ' … a handsome and well written volume, which should serve as a thorough introduction to those unfamiliar with these fascinating animals and as a satisfying, up-to-date synthesis for those wishing to renew their acquaintance.' Trends in Ecology and Evolution 'Six years in the making, Fossil Crinoids is a masterful work. I congratulate the authors on writing a book that is a pleasure to read and a valuable source of information for both professionals and amateur collectors.' Ronald D. Lewis, Society for Sedimentary Geology 'This book has an excellent introduction to crinoid morphology and occurrence'. R. E. Widdison, Geoscientist '… a gem of a book that is beautifully illustrated. It succeeds in bringing the fascination of this ancient group of organisms alive for the reader - professional, student and amateur. Stephen K. Donovan, The Times Higher Education Supplement 'A whole book devoted to Crinoids? the things called 'sea-lilies' by normal people? An obscure fossil group looking more like plants than animals, long since extinct, and of interest only to specialist palaeontologists? Wrong on all counts, as this splendid book shows! … this well illustrated, authoritative book … is good value for money.' David Williams, OUGS Journal '… a very informative, beautifully illustrated, if rather specialized book, which is good value for money.' C. R. C. Paul, Geological Magazine