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Fossil find ‘missing link’ between sea urchin species

Published 15.07.09   13:56 

An amateur fossil hunter’s find will give scientists invaluable information about prehistoric sea urchins The remains of a 65 million-year-old sea urchin uncovered in April at Stevns Cliff in southeastern Zealand is being called a possible biological ‘missing link’ by...

The remains of a 65 million-year-old  sea urchin uncovered in April at Stevns Cliff in southeastern Zealand is being called a possible biological ‘missing link’ by officials at East Zealand Geological Museum.

The museum sent the fossil on to the Museum of Natural History, which contacted Århus University sea urchin expert Søren Bo Andersen to authenticate it.

Andersen believes the specimen is an unknown species that links the Tylocidaris baltica and Tylocidaris oedumi species.

The sea urchin was found by amateur fossil hunter Leif Rasmussen and is in remarkably good condition, according to Andersen, with its spines almost completely in tact. Andersen added that the fossil is of immeasurable importance and value.

The fossil will be displayed at East Zealand Geological Museum until mid-October. It will then be added to the Museum of Natural History’s permanent collection.

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