News & Updates

22/01/2013 The last part, for the moment ! SCHIZASTERIDAE Schizaster decipiens ; EMIRATIIDAE Tetragramma malbosi , Tetragramma almerai ; FAUJASIIDAE Stigmatopygus linguiformis

21/03/2013 I do what I promised, another little serie, with a specimen with its apical plates (Microcyphus) : TEMNOPLEURIDAE Microcyphus rousseaui ; PRENASTERIDAE Prenaster alpinus ; TRIGONOCIDARIDAE theOrtholophus pulchellus

20/01/2013 following the three previous series, this is another one ! And... this is not finished for the moment  TOXASTERIDAE Heteraster obliquatus ; Toxaster maurus ; MARETIIDAE Maretia grignonensis ; Maretia ocellata ; HEMIASTERIDAE Mecaster cubicus

19/01/2013 Another update for the echinoid fans : CLYPEIDAE Clypeus michelini ; ARBACIIDAE Coelopleurus coronalis ; basal MERIDOSTERNATA Galeola papillosa ; CASSIDULIDAE Eurhodia amygdala ; GALERITIDAE Galerites sulcatoradiatus ; Galerites vulgaris

18/01/2013 Some new specimens for you. It's a short list comparing usually, but on the other hand, I will present you new species more regularly.
ECHINONEIDAE Amblypygus dilatatus ; BRISSOPSIDAE Brissopsis consobrinus ; Brissopsis crescenticus ; Brissopsis lusitanicus ; Brissopsis ottnangnsis ; PLIOLAMPADIDAE Arnaudaster toucasi

01/01/2013 Hello Everybody, friends and Folks, fans & collectors, I hope you feel good and that this newsletter will be the first contact of the year for you into the world of fossil echinoids
As I said previously on the Facebook page of the website, I wish you all a great New Year with a lot of fossils, love (a mountain of it), new friends, health & all what you're expecting ;)
This is the FIRST update for the new year with two very rare species coming from Morocco (the two first links in the list below)
Enjoy these marvellous little things and... C.U. later Folks !
HETEROCIDARIDAE Heterocidaris trigeri two specimens, one of them is showing the structure of the ambulacrum and the associated spines. The ambulacrum of this species wasn't known till today, to my knowledge!
GLYPTICIDAE Masrouraster ouhouissi male and female specimens, you will notice the difference into the size of the pores on the apical plates and the very different shape depending of the gender ;
ECHINARACHNIIDAE Scutellaster interlineata, An uncommon species (here presented in a partial block showing a mass mortality). The specimens are totally covered with their spines ; RHABDOCIDARIDAE Rhabdocidaris turbeti ; HEMIASTERIDAE Holanthus vadosus ; PYGASTERIDAE Pygaster ornatus , one of the specimens is showing the madreporite plate, this situation is excessively uncommon, because usually the apical system is lacking

28/03/2010 As the weather is rainy outside, I tried to put some order on the website. There are some new galleries for this week : CLYPEASTERIDAE (be patient, the pictures are bigger than usually), Clypeaster humilis (LESKE,1778), Clypeaster aegypticus MICHELIN,1863 , Clypeaster brevior (SEGUENZA,1880) , Clypeaster convexus VADASZ,1905 , Clypeaster folium AGASSIZ,1847 , Clypeaster olisiponensis MICHELIN,1861 , Clypeaster rangianus DESMOULINS,1835 ; SALENIIDAE : Bathysalenia granulosa (WOODWARD,1856) ; ARCHIACIIDAE : five new specimens (37, 50, 39, 50 and 32mm long) of : Claviaster libycus THOMAS & GAUTHIER, 1889 ; AEROPSIDAE : Coraster vilanovae (COTTEAU,1886) two specimens , Coraster marsooi SEUNES,1888 two specimens , Coraster beneharnicus SEUNES,1888 two specimens ; CLYPEOLAMPADIDAE ;  Clypeolampas perovalis (ARNAUD,1877) ; ARBACIIDAE : Coelopleurus coronalis AGASSIZ,1848, Coelopleurus (Murravechinus) paucituberculatus (GREGORY,1890)

24/02/2010 There has been no updates since a few weeks, as you surely noticed ! The work focused on a more important contribution than only pictures. Indeed, families, genera and species that follow are now accompanied with the original diagnosis or descriptions of contemporary writers. Please, note that they are verbatims, or extracts of original works when pointed out. We hope that this work will be helpfull for you and feel free to write us if you've more precise informations than those reported in these pages. The latest updates are for the following families : Acropeltidae, Acrosalniidae, Aeropsidea, Anorthopygidae, Apatopygidae, Arachnoididae, Arbaciidae, Archaeocidaridae, Archiaciidae, Astriclypeidae, "basal meridosternata", Brissidae, Brissopsidae, Cardiasteridae, Cassidulidae, Catopygidae, Cidaridae, Clypeasteridae.

18/12/2009 The snow is still here, in Eastern France. And so I prefer working hard for you, instead making snowmens. BRISSOPSIDAE : Brissopsis mediterranea MORTENSEN,1913 ; GALEROPYGIDAE Aulacopygus subcircularis (COTTEAU,1874) ; FAUJASIDAE , Stigmatopyginae : Australanthus florescens (GREGORY, 1892) ; and last but not the least :  ARCHAEOCIDARIDAE Archaeocidaris brownwoodensis SCHNEIDER & al.,2005

14/12/2009 I'm late with the "sunday gallery" : I've little problem with my health... It has also taken a time for this update, because there was a lot of text to add (a lot of pics also). HOLASTERIDAE :   Cibaster leymeriei (Cotteau,1887) ; Cibaster minor (COTTEAU,1860) ; ARBACIIDAE : Gymnodiadema choffati DE LORIOL, 1884 (four big specimens) ; Codiopsis lorini COTTEAU,1851 (three perfect specimens)

06/12/2009 Today, we added some new specimens in the Cassidulidae family :  Cassidulus trojanus COOKE,1942 ;  Eurhodia amygdala (DESOR,1863). And as you'll see, I added also a large verbatim of orignal/subsequent descriptions for the whole family. Hope it will helps. I'll be glad to receive your comments about this new feature.

22/11/2009 Rainy week end, I can upload ! I hope that ancient diagnoses, descriptions are usefull for you. For instance, ECHINARACHNIIDAE :  Astrodapsis davisi GRANT & EATON,1941 ; Astrodapsis whitneyi REMOND, 1864

22/11/2009 for this update, just follow : ANORTHOPYGIDAE : Anorthopygus orbicularis (GRATELOUP,1836) ; PSYCHOCIDARIDAE : Balanocidaris glandifera (MÜNSTER in GOLDFUSS, 1829)
PYGAULIDAE : Pygorhynchus loryi (LAMBERT) ; GLYPHOCYPHIDAE : Arachniopleurus reticulatus DUNCAN & SLADEN,1882.

22/11/2009 Nucleolitidae : /Asterobrissus fourteaui/ (LAMBERT,1913) : As you certainly noticed, this link is not correct. The real echinoid to be showed wasn't at all a Nucleolitid, but Aphelaster integerer, a toxasterid. My apologies for this inversion.

22/11/2009 Today, we added some new specimens and also new taxinomic descriptions, for : Acropeltidae : Acropeltis atlantica REY,1989 ; Archiaciidae: Archiacia santonensis (d'ARCHIAC,1855) ; Nucleolitidae : Asterobrissus fourteaui (LAMBERT,1913)

14/11/2009 I start again to upload new galleries. It has taken a time, because there was a lot of photos to shoot. IMPORTANT : I added since today the original description, diagnosis for genus and species. Let me know by email if this is useful or not for you. ORTHOPSIDAE A big species represented on the site by five specimens : Orthopsis ovata (COQUAND,1862) ; PHYMOSOMATIDAE : big Thylechinus also Thylechinus schlumbergeri (COTTEAU,1864).

23/08/2009 Nobody on the planet in August ! I'm a poor lonesome echinoid boy... Just a word to introduce the last update : Arbacia improcera (CONRAD) ; Eupatagus ornatus (DEFRANCE) ; Dorocidaris bazerquei LAMBERT ; Paracidaris (Paracidaris) florigemma (PHILIPS) ; Maretia ocellata (DEFRANCE) ; Spatangus cf. purpureus MÜLLER the last one, promised... ; Echinocorys gravesii (DESOR)
Echinocory scutata (LESKE) ; Heteraster oblongus (d'ORBIGNY) another one... ; Clypeus plotii LESKE ; Mepygurus depressus (AG. in AG. & DESOR) ; Gauthieria pseudomagnifica (COTTEAU) ; Nucleolites micraulus AGASSIZ

01/08/2009 Another "click and see" serie : As requested by some of you, only common echinoids in this update. ASTRICLYPEIDAE  Amphiope bioculata (DESMAREST) ;   Amphiope ; ovalifora (DESMAREST) EMIRATIIDAE, DIPLOPODINAE Diplopodia planissimum (AGASSIZ) ;   Diplopodia versipora WRIGHT HEMICIDARIDAE, PSEUDOCIDARINAE  Cidaropsis minor (AGASSIZ) MARETIIDAE   Eupatagus floridanus CLARK ;   Eupatagus antillarum (COTTEAU) ;   Eupatagus murrayensis LAUBE.

18/07/2009 As you has certainly noticed, the index pages called "galeries" was too long to be on a single screen and you have had to use the scrolling. So I decided to split it in "letter by letter index", it's more difficult for me to manage but give you the possibility of a smoother surf. Don't hesitate to give me your appreciation about this modification. For the instant, just a single update regarding : Brissidae : Metalia gneffensis (FOURTEAU) ; Micrasteridae : Micraster coranguinum (LESKE) ; Toxasteridae : Macraster pseudoelegans ADKINS ; Oligopygidae : Oligopygus haldemani (CONRAD) ; Orthopsidae : Orthopsis miliaris d'ARCHIAC ; Toxopneustidae : Schizechinus serialis (POMEL) ; Galeropygidae : Galeropygus agariciformis (WRIGHT) ; Hemiasteridae : Leymeriaster similis (d'ORBIGNY) ; Basal meridosternata (Holasteridae ?) : Crassiholaster subglobosus (LESKE)
Galeropygidae : Hyboclypus gibberulus AGASSIZ (the specific attrib. of the last one is doubtfull).

24/06/2009 : Twice a day now ! For this update, just follow :

Macraster vatonnei (COQUAND) Toxasteridae
Epiaster laxoporus (d'ORBIGNY) Toxasteridae
Micraster decipiens (BAYLE) Micrasteridae
Micraster cortestudinarium (GOLDFUSS) Micrasteridae

24/06/2009 : After the bad last week during wich my hosting compagny had failed to assume his responsability in terms of technology, nor in communication... The site was down as you've noticed, without possibility to upload something, Raid disks down also... As I would like to stay as polite as possible, I will not give my sentiment about this situation, nor about this company, just it's name : online.net

for what we're occupying, I continue to inform you about the news related to the galleries. Today, we publish : Clypeolampas leskei (GOLDFUSS) Clypeolampadidae ; Hemiaster corculum (LAUBE) Hemiasteridae ; Hemiaster withei (CLARK) Hemiasteridae ; Encope emarginata (LESKE) Mellitidae (juvenile specimen)

11/06/2009 Yes, it's unusual, we're not at the end of the week, but I've a little bit time to waste... MICRASTERIDAE   Cyclaster archeri (TENISON & WOODS) ; HEMIASTERIDAE (Palaeostominae) Ditremaster covazi (TARAMELLI) ; Bolbaster planedeclivis (GREGORY) ; TOXASTERIDAE : Epiaster crassissimus (DEFRANCE) ; ANORTHOPYGIDAE :   Anorthopygus orbicularis (GRATELOUP)

01/06/2009 Last update for today : lets have some polish echinoids. Pygasteridae : Pygaster morrisi WRIGHT, two bid specimens (not yet cleaned... because of the concrete hard limestone) ; Pygaster tenuis AGASSIZ.

01/06/2009 Twice a day... This afternoon was dedicated to : SCHIZASTERIDAE : Periaster elatus (DESMOULINS) ; Periaster verneuilli (DESOR) ;
PRENASTERIDAE : Anisaster mossomi (COOKE) ; HEMIASTERIDAE : Hemiaster angustipneustes DESOR ; Mecaster amaliae (PERON & GAUTHIER) ; MICRASTERIDAE : Micraster leskei DESMOULINS.

01/06/2009 Just a word about the previous message. I wrote that all specimens figured in the last update were common... But as a matter of fact, I have to correct with this : "except" Pedinopsis, wich is as scarce as possible, as you know certainly. Today I would like to show another specimens of Pseudogibbaster tercensis (5 new) : they are very different in their global shape and also in the ambulacrum design.
Two of them have closed ambulacra in the proximal area (apex zone) and a impair ambulacrum shorter than normally. Maybe they are females ? If someone have an idea about this, I will be glad to read something about this. The other figurations are about : SCHIZASTERIDAE : Linthia canaliculata (COTTEAU) ; Linthia wilmingtonensis CLARK ; MICRASTERIDAE : Ovulaster gauthieri  COTTEAU ; TOXASTERIDAE : Pliotoxaster paquieri LAMBERT ; HEMIASTERIDAE : Hemiaster stella (MORTON) ; Mecaster meghilensis LAMBERT

30/05/2009 For this update, only common echinoids, from Europe and Africa : Pedinopsidae :  Pedinopsis meridanensis COTTEAU ; Toxasteridae :  Toxaster peroni LAMBERT, Toxaster africanus (COQUAND) var. rochi LAMBERT ; Toxaster subcavatus (GAUTHIER in COTTEAU, PERON & GAUTHIER) ; Micrasteridae :  Pseudogibbaster tercensis (COTTEAU) inflated morph.
 

04/04/2009 With this update, you get a large variety of sea urchins : regulars, irregulars, old, near recent, from Europe, From Asia.
Be cool, it's sunday, sunny sunday : HEMICIDARIDAE : Pseudocidaris mammosa (AGASSIZ) ; Gymnocidaris agassizi (ROEMER) ; MICRASTERIDAE Pseudogibbaster tercensis (COTTEAU) ; CLYPEIDAE : Pygurus blumenbachi (KUCH & DUNKER) two specimens ; Pygurus jurensis MARCOU ; Mepygurus depressus (AGASSIZ in AG. & DESOR) two specimens ; SCHIZASTERIDAE : Schizaster globulus DAMES ; SCUTELLIDAE : Scaphechinus mirabilis AGASSIZ two specimens.

30/03/2009 Saturday, Sunday, Monday.... and... STOP. Updates today for : HEMIASTERIDAE Palhemiaster comanchei ; FAUJASIIDAE/ Stigmatopyginae : Petalobrissus rawdahensis ; MICRASTERIDAE : Ovulaster gauthieri ; TOXASTERIDAE : Toxaster retusus, two specimens

29/03/2009 Today you will see some pictures related to the toxasteridae. Maybe should I use the term "toxasterids" or even "spatangoids", since the classification is always under work and so unclear. But you understand what I mean, no ? If somebody has an idea about...
On the other hand, please let me know if some of the new pages we have published recently contain broken links or other errors. Many thanks.
I'm sorry to say that from today the pictures will be bigger (around 100-110 kb) and therefore longer to load for those who don't have fast internet connection. But on the other hand, the quality is better, because of the low compression ratio.

• Pliotoxaster whitei
• Macraster denisonensis
• Macraster pseudoelegans
• Macraster texanus
• Macraster washitae
   

28/03/2009 No galleries since at least three week : my apologies for this, but I was (very) busy. I'm proud to present the following of the big collection of Hemiasterids.
In addition you'll get one representant of Aeropsidae and another one of Holasteridae, just click below please. Holaster senonensis ; Homoeaster auberti ; Leymeriaster similis ; Mecaster pseudofourneli (two specimens, the second one has a special peristome) ; Mecaster scutiger ; Mecaster syriacus.

21/02/2009 This time, at least 90 % of the update is dedicated to Hemiasteridae, one of the most common, most variable genus. A morphological plasticity just for collector's pleaure.
But I cannot resist also to put one or two cidarids, one or two Micrasters...

• Plegiocidaris bradfordensis
• Plegiocidaris crucifera
• Temnocidaris (Stereocidaris) sceptrifera
• Micraster cf. normanniae
• Micraster glyphus
• Micraster gourdoni
• Micraster leskei
• Micraster decipiens
• Hemiaster bufo
• Hemiaster cenomanensis
• Mecaster latigrunda (my preffered)
• Mecaster gabrielis
• Mecaster ameliae
• Bolbaster prunella
• Hemiaster punctatus
   

21/02/2009 Last time for this week. For this issue, are concerned : SCHIZASTERIDAE   Linthia canaliculata (COTTEAU) ; HEMIASTERIDAE  Mecaster cubicus DESOR ; LAGANIDAE / Laganinae   Sismondia intermedia FABRE, Sismondia testudo COTTEAU, Sismondia archiaci COTTEAU ; ECHINOCORYTHIDAE  Echinocorys sulcatus (GOLDFUSS) ; CLYPEIDAE Mepygurus depressus (AGASSIZ), Mepygurus michelini (COTTEAU), Mepygurus marmonti (BEAUDOUIN).

20/02/2009 For this update : only common echinoids, from Europe and America : Hemididaris crenularis (GOLDFUSS) ; Hemicidaris langrunensis COTTEAU ; Hemicidaris luciensis d'ORBIGNY ; Hemicidaris purbeckensis FORBES ; Hemitiaris stramonium (AGASSIZ) ; Merriamaster perrini (WEAVER) ; Peronella orbicularis (LESKE) ; Jacksonaster depressum AGASSIZ

17/02/2009 After the bad yellow background, another one is the black. With this update, you'll get american echinoids (I love their shapes) and some good oldies from France : Hemiasterids. My apologies for the pictures : sometimes they are too big if you don't have DSL. Encope grandis AGASSIZ ; Encope emarginata (LESKE) ; Encope tamiamiensis MANSFIELD ; Encope angelensis DIRHAM ; Encope carmenensis DURHAM ; Encope micropora (AGASSIZ) ; Hemiaster arnaudi COTTEAU ; Bolbaster prunella (LAMARCK) ; Leymeriaster similis (d'ORBIGNY)

15/02/2009 Sunday, sunday... sunny sunday... COLD sunday. Outside temperature is below 5°C and I'm happy to be behind my desk, preparing new galleries for you all. Today I would like to illustrate the variety of echinids through nine species as different as possible. Just take a look ! Acrocidaris nobilis AGASSIZ, Conoclypus vilanovae (COTTEAU), Eurhodia rugosa (RAVENEL), Eurhodia rugosa depressa (RAVENEL), Gitolampas desmoulinsis (DELBOS) 75mm new specimen better than the first one, Gitolampas scutella (LAMARCK), Heliophora orbicularis (LINNE) var. dentata LESKE, Heliophora orbiculus var orbiculus (LINNE) very scarce in this condition, Rotuloidea fimbriata ETHERIDGE.

08/02/2009 for the end of this week, I decided that il would be better for me to shoot some pictures of echinoids than having my nose in ancient litterature. That's why you will get only this update with some common echinoids. Be sure that determinations for Collyrites can be discussed, because there's nothing clear for this genus... Collyrites elliptica (LAMARCK) ; Collyrites dorsalis (AGASSIZ) ; Collyrites cheveti VADET et al. ; Cardiopelta bicordata (LESKE) ; Dendraster gibbsi (REMOND) ; Dendraster venturaensis (KEW).

31/01/2009 It's my pleasure to thanks again my friend Chris from South Aussie : he sent me some pictures of the type of a recently created species of Rhynchopygus. You can enjoy the pictures of these specimens here (holotype and one of the paratypes) : Rhynchopygus janchrisorum Holmes, Ah Yee & Krause, 2004

I've also updated the family Saleniidae with the followings : Leptosalenia prestensis (Desor,1856) ; Leptosalenia grasi (Cotteau,1861) ; Leptosalenia mexicana (Schlüter,1887) ; Leptosalenia texana (Credner,1875) ; Salenia (Salenia) geometrica Agassiz,1838 ; Salenia (Salenia) leanderensis Ikins,1940 ; Salenia (Salenia) scotti Ikins,1940 ;

Stomechinids with a pyriform and giant form of Magnosia (not yet described, but maybe in the variation domain of M. forbesi, and treated as this on echinologia) : Magnosia forbesi (Wright,1851)

24/01/2009 updates for the followings : Dorocidaris taouzensis (with apical system) ; Diplocidaris incerta (big specimen) ; new specimens for stomechinids : Stomechinus bigranularis 44 & 60 mm ; Stomechinus morierei 45mm.

23/01/2009 Just a little word about a (little) mistake I have done when constructing the page dedicated to Arachnoididae. For Fellaster incisa, the real reference is (TATE,1893) and not at all SADLER & PLEDGE,1985. A friend of mine, who lives in Australia pointed it out and report it to us : a big thank to him, great connoiseur of Aussie echinoids. with this update, I will continue the serie of Rhynchopygus with another two specimens from my friend "Sarthacensis". The first one is the type species of the genus. Just have a look folks...

Rhynchopygus marmini (Agassiz, 1847)
Rhynchopygus savini (Cotteau, 1894)

03/01/2009 One more time and as we use to say in France : "jamais deux sans trois". This is why you've got a third message today. For this issue, are concerned :
STOMECHINIDAE / Stomechinus bigranularis (LAMARCK) specimen of 42mm in diameter ; Stomechinus morierei COTTEAU specimens of 34 & 36mm in diameter ; PHYMOSOMATIDAE / Phymosoma raguini LAMBERT three specimens of 35, 38 & 40mm in diameter ; EMIRATIIDAE / Polydiadema royeri LAMBERT ; ECHINARACHNIIDAE / Proescutella caillaudi (COTTEAU)

03/01/2009 Following my last message, please find hereafter some updates for cidaroids : CIDARIDAE / Temnocidaris (Stereocidaris) subvesiculosa (d'ORBIGNY) another two specimens of Plegiocidaris saemanni (COTTEAU) 17 and 27mm in diameter ; HEMICIDARIDAE --> PSEUDOCIDARINAE / Pseudocidaris precincta (LAMBERT) two specimens ; DIPLOCIDARIDAE / Diplocidaris mauritanicus JEANNET

03/01/2009 Today we update the Arachnoididae with (probably female specimen) : Willungaster scutellaris PHILIP & FOSTER and create a new page with Neolampadidae for : Studeria elegans (LAUBE). The second exemplar kindly provided by a friend of mine (J.-F.D., also called "Sarthacensis" on some internet forums). We add also a new species of Rhynchopygus (Faujasiidae) : Rhynch. gauthieri (de GROSSOUVRE), it comes from Sartha's collection too. I hope that you'll be informed today again about another new galleries, if I've some time to waste with fossils...

27/12/2008 Let's add some new specimens in the schizasterids collection with : Schizaster armiger, S. depressum, S. ocalanus, S. rimosus.

26/12/2008 Again ! for another update for Pygasteridae with : P. laganoides ; for Salenidae with : Salenia (Pleurosalenia) tertiara and Holosalenia batnensis.

26/12/2008 Today, one new family with the Spatangidae : Spatangus cf. euglyphus, S. corsicus ; a new addition in the Stomechinidae : a very typical and scarce Thierychinus delaunayi.

14/12/2008 This week, three species of scarce irregulars : Pericosmidae with : Pericosmus agassizi (SISMONDA), Apatopygidae with : Nucleopygus lacunosus (GOLDFUSS), Faujasiidae with : Ochetus morrisii (FORBES)

07/12/2008 : today, we update : Hemiateridae, with Mecaster luynesi COTTEAU ; Tithoniidae, with Metaporinus sarthacensis (COTTEAU) ; Conulidae, with Pseudopyrina cylindrica (GRAS)