Crinoids & rugose coral
digital painting 2026
While working on a timeline, only a few new invertebrates were needed. The small group of crinoids addresses some of the challenges posed by the strict repetition of shapes that is characteristic particularly of echinoderms. The shape chosen should be as simple as possible, something like Apiocrinites from the late Jurassic, based on the background image of a reef landscape. The result is at least decorative and quite satisfying when presented from a moderate distance.
The coral shown on the left is the exact opposite: although likewise based on fossil data, it is defined by an internal skeleton surrounded by poorly defined soft tissues. An illustration of an extinct multicellular animal could hardly be simpler or more vague, which is why it cannot be assigned to anything more specific than a generalized solitary rugose. Rugose corals are typical of the Paleozoic.