A genus of extinct sea lilies or crinoids with characteristically branching, ray-like arms extending from a central body.
From actino- (Greek aktis, 'ray') + crinus (Latin for 'hair' or 'lily'). This genus name was coined in the 19th century to classify fossils showing distinctive radiating arm structures.
Actinocrinus fossils are among the most abundant in certain rock formations, and their popularity with Victorian fossil collectors actually helped fund early paleontological museums—pretty remarkable that these 300-million-year-old creatures became prized possessions long before we fully understood what they were.
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