Remarkable 'Alien-Looking' Fossil Found in Australia

'Alien-Looking' crinoid Fossil Found in Australia

In a remarkable discovery in Western Australia, scientists have unearthed a well-preserved, alien-looking fossil of the Jimbacrinus bostocki crinoid. Dating back approximately 280 million years to the Permian period, this fascinating find provides a stunning glimpse into the rich marine biodiversity of that era.

Crinoids, such as Jimbacrinus bostocki, are marine animals related to starfish, brittle stars, and sea urchins, belonging to the Echinoderm phylum. These deep-sea seafloor inhabitants have maintained the same basic body shape throughout time. The Jimbacrinus bostocki used a stalk made of flexible, porous columnal “discs” connected by soft tissue to attach itself to the seafloor substrate. This hollow stalk housed the nervous system, with oxygen absorbed through thin-walled tube feet.

Alien-Looking' Jimbacrinus bostocki crinoid fossil Found in Australia. Photo by: Crystal World Australia

The crinoid's crown consists of a calyx and arms. The calyx, which contains the mouth and anus, is situated on the upper surface, surrounded by five feeding arms lined with fine, feathery structures called pinnules. These arms were used to filter feed on planktonic particles and detritus in the seawater. The exceptional preservation of the pinnules in the Jimbacrinus bostocki specimens allows scientists to study these intricate features in detail.

The fossil, discovered near Gascoyne Junction in Western Australia, measures up to 22 cm long and is highly regarded for its stunning detail and museum-quality preservation. These fossils are available on the open market, with permits required for export from Australia.

The discovery is significant for its scientific value and for enhancing our understanding of the Permian period, a time when marine ecosystems were diversifying. This era is also known for the catastrophic "Great Dying" extinction event, which wiped out approximately 90% of all marine species. The Jimbacrinus bostocki fossil offers clues about the environmental conditions leading to this mass extinction.

The alien-looking Jimbacrinus bostocki crinoid fossils were first discovered in 1949 by the manager of the Jimba Jimba cattle station in Western Australia, Mr. J. Bostock, after whom the species is named. Further collections by fieldwork geologists from the Bureau of Geology were transported to Melbourne, with the first descriptive paper published in the Journal of Palaeontology in January 1954 by Curt Teichert of the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

These fossils are part of the Cundlego Formation, a sandstone formation created by flooding and storm deposition. They are increasingly difficult to find due to the frequent intense flooding and desiccation cycles of their riverbed source.

The exceptional preservation of the Jimbacrinus bostocki fossil, part of an index of species that perished at the boundary between the Permian and the Triassic, continues to provide insights into the Permian seas' biodiversity and one of Earth's most significant extinction events. As scientists study this fossil further, they hope to unravel more mysteries about the Permian period and the dramatic changes that shaped the course of life on Earth.

Detailed fossil of a Jimbacrinus bostocki crinoid, showcasing its intricate skeletal structure.

Fossil of the Jimbacrinus bostocki crinoid, Permian Gascoyne River, Western Australia. Photo by: John Cancalosi

Permian-era fossil of a Jimbacrinus bostocki crinoid from Australia Photo by: FossilEra