''Agaricocrinus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of extinct

crinoid Crinoids are marine animals that make up the class Crinoidea. Crinoids that are attached to the sea bottom by a stalk in their adult form are commonly called sea lilies, while the unstalked forms are called feather stars or comatulids, which are ...

s, belonging to the family Coelocrinidae. These stationary upper-level epifaunal suspension feeders lived in the Carboniferous period and in the Osagean age of United States, from 353.8 to 345.0 Ma.

Selected species

*''

Agaricocrinus americanus ''Agaricocrinus americanus'', the mushroom crinoid, is a species of Extinction, extinct crinoid, known only from its fossils, which are found in the U.S. states of Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky. They date back to the Mississippian age, Lower M ...

'' Roemer *''

Agaricocrinus splendens ''Agaricocrinus'' is a genus of extinct crinoids, belonging to the family Coelocrinidae. These stationary upper-level epifaunal suspension feeders lived in the Carboniferous period and in the Osagean age of United States, from 353.8 to 345.0 M ...

'' Miller and Gurley

Description

Like extant crinoids, ''Agaricocrinus'' species was anchored to a hard surface by a holdfast out of which grew an articulated stalk. On top of this was a calyx with a number of feather-like arms. Each arm bore short branches known as pinnules and from these cirri were extended which sifted plankton from the water flowing past.

References

Prehistoric crinoid genera Carboniferous crinoids Extinct animals of the United States {{paleo-crinoidea-stub