This is a nicely inflated Pleurocystites squamous cystoid from the Ordovician Bobcaygeon formation near Brechin, Canada.
Cystoids are echinoderms, related to starfish and sand dollars, but went extinct at the end of the Devonian.
#FossilFriday
Cystoids are echinoderms, related to starfish and sand dollars, but went extinct at the end of the Devonian.
#FossilFriday
July 17, 2026 at 6:50 PM
This is a nicely inflated Pleurocystites squamous cystoid from the Ordovician Bobcaygeon formation near Brechin, Canada.
Cystoids are echinoderms, related to starfish and sand dollars, but went extinct at the end of the Devonian.
#FossilFriday
Cystoids are echinoderms, related to starfish and sand dollars, but went extinct at the end of the Devonian.
#FossilFriday
Cystoids always look like alien egg pods.
May 2, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Cystoids always look like alien egg pods.
These are the smallest cystoids I've ever seen.
They are from the Ordovician Bromide Fm. of Oklahoma. I don't have an ID yet (maybe @daveyfwright.bsky.social can help). The label did say it was from the William Watkins collection.
#FossilFriday
They are from the Ordovician Bromide Fm. of Oklahoma. I don't have an ID yet (maybe @daveyfwright.bsky.social can help). The label did say it was from the William Watkins collection.
#FossilFriday
April 24, 2026 at 1:05 PM
These are the smallest cystoids I've ever seen.
They are from the Ordovician Bromide Fm. of Oklahoma. I don't have an ID yet (maybe @daveyfwright.bsky.social can help). The label did say it was from the William Watkins collection.
#FossilFriday
They are from the Ordovician Bromide Fm. of Oklahoma. I don't have an ID yet (maybe @daveyfwright.bsky.social can help). The label did say it was from the William Watkins collection.
#FossilFriday
I spent last night looking for a copy of Dr. Otto Jaekel's Stammesgeschichte der Pelmatozoen from 1899. It's written in German and describes many strange cystoids. I have a few from the lower Ordovician, Wolchow River near St. Petersburg, Russia that I'm trying to identify.
#FossilFriday
#FossilFriday
June 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM
I spent last night looking for a copy of Dr. Otto Jaekel's Stammesgeschichte der Pelmatozoen from 1899. It's written in German and describes many strange cystoids. I have a few from the lower Ordovician, Wolchow River near St. Petersburg, Russia that I'm trying to identify.
#FossilFriday
#FossilFriday
Cystoids are extinct echinoderms related to starfish and sand dollars. This is Pleurocystites squamous from the Ordovician Bobcaygeon formation near Brechin, Ontario. It's about 3.5 cm long including the stem. There are 3 rhombs visible that are part of the respiratory system.
#FossilFriday
#FossilFriday
September 11, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Cystoids are extinct echinoderms related to starfish and sand dollars. This is Pleurocystites squamous from the Ordovician Bobcaygeon formation near Brechin, Ontario. It's about 3.5 cm long including the stem. There are 3 rhombs visible that are part of the respiratory system.
#FossilFriday
#FossilFriday
Cystoids look like alien egg pods. I said it.
This is a drawing of a Devonian cystoid, Lipsanocystites oblatus, from the Thunder Bay Limestone near Alpena. I found the second known specimen, now housed at UMMP.
#InverteFest #SciArt
This is a drawing of a Devonian cystoid, Lipsanocystites oblatus, from the Thunder Bay Limestone near Alpena. I found the second known specimen, now housed at UMMP.
#InverteFest #SciArt
April 24, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Cystoids look like alien egg pods. I said it.
This is a drawing of a Devonian cystoid, Lipsanocystites oblatus, from the Thunder Bay Limestone near Alpena. I found the second known specimen, now housed at UMMP.
#InverteFest #SciArt
This is a drawing of a Devonian cystoid, Lipsanocystites oblatus, from the Thunder Bay Limestone near Alpena. I found the second known specimen, now housed at UMMP.
#InverteFest #SciArt
my current playthrough of prey is on hard (no survival modifiers) which I *definitely* did not do the first time because I'm getting my ass kicked
unrelated: fuck cystoids and fuck michael gravity
unrelated: fuck cystoids and fuck michael gravity
September 26, 2025 at 2:06 AM
my current playthrough of prey is on hard (no survival modifiers) which I *definitely* did not do the first time because I'm getting my ass kicked
unrelated: fuck cystoids and fuck michael gravity
unrelated: fuck cystoids and fuck michael gravity
ESCONI Field Trip to Napoleon Quarry in Napoleon Indiana - May 31st, 2025 #fieldtrip #indiana #silurian #ordovician #cystoids #trilobites #brachiopods
www.esconi.org/esconi_earth...
www.esconi.org/esconi_earth...
May 1, 2025 at 3:36 AM
ESCONI Field Trip to Napoleon Quarry in Napoleon Indiana - May 31st, 2025 #fieldtrip #indiana #silurian #ordovician #cystoids #trilobites #brachiopods
www.esconi.org/esconi_earth...
www.esconi.org/esconi_earth...
Here's a closer view of one of the rhombs on this cystoid. This individual plates are also easier to see.
Cystoids are very strange and interesting animals.
#FossilFriday
Cystoids are very strange and interesting animals.
#FossilFriday
September 11, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Here's a closer view of one of the rhombs on this cystoid. This individual plates are also easier to see.
Cystoids are very strange and interesting animals.
#FossilFriday
Cystoids are very strange and interesting animals.
#FossilFriday
Cystoids are such alien looking creatures. With a new Alien movie releasing this weekend, this seemed fitting. There are rumors these ancient echinoderms may have inspired the facehuggers.
#FossilFriday
#FossilFriday
August 16, 2024 at 2:38 PM
Cystoids are such alien looking creatures. With a new Alien movie releasing this weekend, this seemed fitting. There are rumors these ancient echinoderms may have inspired the facehuggers.
#FossilFriday
#FossilFriday
I'm back from MAPS and I have so many amazing new crinoids and cystoids and carpoids, oh my!
October 22, 2023 at 12:45 AM
I'm back from MAPS and I have so many amazing new crinoids and cystoids and carpoids, oh my!
Ordovician cystoids are even stranger.
Cheirocystis sp. from the Neuville Fm of Quebec. Also two carpoids (Quebecarpus sp.)
#FossilFriday
Cheirocystis sp. from the Neuville Fm of Quebec. Also two carpoids (Quebecarpus sp.)
#FossilFriday
May 2, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Ordovician cystoids are even stranger.
Cheirocystis sp. from the Neuville Fm of Quebec. Also two carpoids (Quebecarpus sp.)
#FossilFriday
Cheirocystis sp. from the Neuville Fm of Quebec. Also two carpoids (Quebecarpus sp.)
#FossilFriday
Those cystoids are awesome! Echinoderms aren't depicted that often in paleoart—I love that you gave them attention!
March 18, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Those cystoids are awesome! Echinoderms aren't depicted that often in paleoart—I love that you gave them attention!
Unfortunately, it was from an old collection with no label.
Paracrinoid was also on my list of ideas, but I don't have as many to compare. I'd never seen 4 swirls like that.
I have a few strange Ordovician cystoids from Sweden and Russia, but nothing like this.
Paracrinoid was also on my list of ideas, but I don't have as many to compare. I'd never seen 4 swirls like that.
I have a few strange Ordovician cystoids from Sweden and Russia, but nothing like this.
January 31, 2026 at 2:45 AM
Unfortunately, it was from an old collection with no label.
Paracrinoid was also on my list of ideas, but I don't have as many to compare. I'd never seen 4 swirls like that.
I have a few strange Ordovician cystoids from Sweden and Russia, but nothing like this.
Paracrinoid was also on my list of ideas, but I don't have as many to compare. I'd never seen 4 swirls like that.
I have a few strange Ordovician cystoids from Sweden and Russia, but nothing like this.
There are many echinoderms that inspired Lovecraft and Giger.
Search for cystoids. They can be terrifying.
Search for cystoids. They can be terrifying.
January 6, 2026 at 12:04 AM
There are many echinoderms that inspired Lovecraft and Giger.
Search for cystoids. They can be terrifying.
Search for cystoids. They can be terrifying.
I found a PDF copy of Echinoderm Faunas from the Bromide Formation. I need to look through it. I know there are a few cystoids there.
May 2, 2026 at 3:31 AM
I found a PDF copy of Echinoderm Faunas from the Bromide Formation. I need to look through it. I know there are a few cystoids there.
June 25, 2026 at 5:35 AM
There's a location in Sweden where the cystoids have been replaced by pink calcite in a limestone matrix. They can be found on Baltic coasts. This is mine. It's been through the surf, so it's worn, but pristine specimens are absolutely stunning.
April 4, 2026 at 7:39 AM
There's a location in Sweden where the cystoids have been replaced by pink calcite in a limestone matrix. They can be found on Baltic coasts. This is mine. It's been through the surf, so it's worn, but pristine specimens are absolutely stunning.