Ophiura in Matrix – Kataoua Formation, Draa Valley, Morocco

Ophiura in Matrix | Ordovician | Kataoua Formation, Draa Valley, Morocco

A beautifully preserved Ophiura (brittle star) presented in its original matrix, sourced from the Kataoua Formation of the Draa Valley, Morocco. Approximately 450 million years old, this specimen dates to the Ordovician period — one of the most ancient chapters in the story of complex marine life on Earth.

Provenance

• Species: Ophiura sp. (brittle star)
• Period: Ordovician (~450 Ma)
• Formation: Kataoua Formation
• Location: Draa Valley, Morocco
• Preservation: In matrix

The Draa Valley is one of Morocco's most celebrated fossil localities, yielding exceptional Ordovician echinoderms with remarkable skeletal detail. This ophiuroid is a genuine piece of deep time — predating the dinosaurs by over 200 million years.