Cretaceous Asteroids from California

Abstract

While examining the strata exposed in a roadcut along the North Fork of Matilija Creek, Ventura County, California, the junior author made an unusual paleontologic discovery. In an otherwise barren sequence of shales he uncovered a colony of fossil starfish, a group of animals that are very poorly represented in the North American Mesozoic and Cenozoic fossil record. At the time of the original discovery only a few fragmentary specimens were collected. Later after the importance of his find had been recognized, the junior author made a second trip to the locality and collected additional material. Subsequently the senior author visited the locality but no additional specimens were collected. In all, material representing over 35 individuals of Astropecten and one specimen of Henricia was collected.