Helianthaster? Strange starfish from Morocco

[rocket]

When visiting the region of Erfoud in Morocco, we got some years ago a very unusual starfish.

Devonian chalk, perhaps the layers with Cupressocrinites? Do not exactly know.

It looks like Helianthaster, but there has nothing been published about starfishes like this one.

 

What do you think? Does anyone know this starfish or has new literature about them?

Size is around 10 - 12 cm (original diameter)

 

 

[rocket]

fyi, a paper will be done about it, gave it to a university collection and let you know when it will be published

many thanks to @marguy for contact details to the best researchers about this.

[rocket]

After some time of research there was the decision that is not possible to do a new species with this starfish. It is very unusual and rare and I am happy that it is now housed in the collection of the University of Lyon.

Bertrand Lefebvre from Lyon, Daniel Blake from Illionis and me did a nice poster about it for the ECE-Meeting in Lyon in October. Better, Bertrand did it and Daniel & Bertrand did the research work, my part was only a little.

But, I was glad to be part of this project, thanks to all from TFF who gave me input about this starfishes and Guy (@marguy) for his support and contact

 

 

Edited December 1, 2023 by rocket
quality of the first pic was ....., baaaaaaaaaad