Fossil Crinoids [Hardcover]

Hans Hess (Author), William I. Ausich (Author), Carlton E. Brett (Author), Michael J. Simms (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521450241 | ISBN-13: 978-0521450249 | Publication Date: October 28, 1999

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 to bring 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 twenty-three 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 paleontologists, geologists, evolutionary and marine biologists, ecologists and amateur fossil collectors.

Editorial Reviews

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 goes far beyond many recent works treating major fossil groups in presenting the most spectacular crinoid assemblages, or Lagerstatten, over time and space, spanning the entire fossil record of crinoids from the Ordovician through the Cenozoic from cosmopolitan localities. The book strikes a unique balance between lavish illustration of exquisitely preserved crinoids, heralded in a section of superbly reproduced color photographs, and detailed analysis of the geologic setting of each assemblage...There is no comparable work on crinoids that so concisely introduces crinoid paleontology and the rich fossil record of the group. Anyone with interest in echinoderms, fossil or living, will find a wealth of useful information here." American Paleontologist

"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." Society for Sedimentary Geology

"...the authors have done a splendid job of summarizing much introductory information concisely, illustrating the text with excellent figures and photographs...this is a book equally well suited for the science library and for the coffee table. I congratulate the authors and I highly recommend it." Historical Biology

"The book will be useful for a wide range of individuals, including students, researchers, educators, and the interested amateur...Fossil Crinoids is an excellent reference text... For amateur, eductors, and students, this book is an excellent starting point for learning about fossil crinoids. For the researcher or advanced student, whether an echinoderm specialist or simply a Paleozoic/ Mesozoic paleontogist, this book will be a useful reference for one of the most prominent and historically significant group of fossil echinoderms." Jrnl of Geoscience Education V.49 Sept 2001

Book Description

Crinoids have graced the oceans for more than 500 million years. Less prominent today, they are a common element of many limestones, and had a key role in the ecology of marine communities through much of their fossil record. This is the first comprehensive volume bringing together their biology, classification, evolutionary history, occurrence, preservation and ecology. Exquisitely illustrated with abundant photographs and line drawings of crinoids from around the world, it recreates a fascinating picture of fossil crinoids for palaeontologists, geologists, evolutionary and marine biologists, ecologists and amateur fossil collectors.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 299 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (October 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521450241
• ISBN-13: 978-0521450249
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,619,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fossil Crinoids, August 6, 2004

By 

Joe Zika "Khemprof" (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Fossil Crinoids (Hardcover)

"Fossil Crinoids" written by Hans Hess, William I. Ausich, Carlton E. Brett, and Michael J. Simms is a wonderfully appointed book all about crinoids from 500 million years age and a last chapter on todays crinoids.

"Fossil Crinoinds" is a very good text for the casual collector of fossils and for the paleontologist with paleoecology and paleozoology stongly associated. "Fossil Crinoids" is divided into two sections. The first, is a general part with Crinoid form and function, with systematics, phylogeny and evolutionary history, then fossil occurences, taphonomy or the process behind the preservation of all fossils especially soft-bodied remains, and ecology and ecological interations. The second part and main part of the text deals with assemblages of intact fossil crinoids, which are described in their geological settings, ranging from the Ordovician to the Tertary, from all around the world. These deposits are mostly here in the United States and Canada, but some are from Europe. The one I was particualrly interested are the ones from Crawfordsville, Indiana which is not too far away as the crow flies from where I'm at.

Crinoids have been found in limestone deposits around the world and they date back to 500 million years ago. If they were like their distant cousins of today, they were brightly colored feather like appearence likened to those found on the coral reefs of today. Crinoids had a key role in in the ecology of the ocean communities. Everything you want to know and more that you'd like to know about crinoids is here in this book making it a wonderful reference book.

"Fossil Crinoids" gets a solid 5 star rating for a very well put together reference text making for ease of understanding of the subject matter.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wow - if you ever wanted to know about crinoids ..., December 29, 2000

By 

Michael Williams "mike-on-peakview" (Boulder, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fossil Crinoids (Hardcover)

I recently bought a plate of fossil crinoids and wanted to identify them. This book has been helpful but not perfect for the task. What the book did do is allow me to come to a radically deeper understanding of what I was looking at (which is what I really wanted). Great diagrams and photos! Magnificent clear explanation! If you have any interest in these funny little animals buy this book.