Corbulicrinus

Corbulicrinus is a genus of extinct crinoids, commonly known as sea lilies. These marine animals belonged to the class Crinoidea and lived during the Mesozoic Era, specifically the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Corbulicrinus fossils are found in various marine sedimentary rocks globally.

The typical body plan of a Corbulicrinus, like other crinoids, consisted of a calyx or cup-shaped body, from which numerous feathery arms extended. These arms were used for filter-feeding, capturing small particles of food from the water column. Many crinoids also possessed a stem, which attached them to the seafloor, allowing them to remain anchored in place. Corbulicrinus likely exhibited this characteristic stem structure, though preserved stems are often fragmented in the fossil record.

The classification of Corbulicrinus places it within the order Uintacrinida, a group of crinoids characterized by specific features of their calyx and arm structure. The genus is known from several described species, distinguished by variations in the shape and ornamentation of their calyx plates and the arrangement of their arms. Studying these differences helps paleontologists understand the evolutionary relationships and paleoecology of these ancient echinoderms. The presence of Corbulicrinus in fossil assemblages provides insights into the marine environments of the Jurassic and Cretaceous, indicating conditions suitable for suspension-feeding organisms.