Any Shenanigans on these Starfish?

[jikohr]

Hi everyone!

 

I recently acquired these two at a fossil show at a pretty good price. Thing is, I'm not super familiar with starfish and brittle stars. They're Moroccan so I figured there might be some funny business because, Morocco. I suspect three of the arm ends (in the upper left pic they are the upper right and left and lower right arms) on the starfish and the very tips of the brittle star arms, but if anyone sees anywhere else that might be fake or restored or if those areas look okay it be great if they can point it out. 

 

Any insight is appreciated as always!

 

 

[Kane]

Other than colour, I cannot see a distinction between the starfish and the surrounding matrix. That one seems to be a fabrication to me, and a poor one at that which lacks symmetry. I am less sure about the brittlestar.

[Brevicollis]

Starfish have body plates that preserve usually. I dont know how its on the starfish from morocco, but the first one looks like a toddlers drawing to hang on the fridge. I would say its definetly fake or mostly fake, carved and painted. @rocket once said on a similar topic : "worth a medium size pizza for all the work put in". I would say the first starfish is worth a chocolate bar. The second one is a different story. It looks real to me, some plates and small details are preserved, but it has been painted and sligtly restored i think. But theres some real fossil inside it, If its a good one, thats a question that other Forum members should answer, because i am not an expert.

[jikohr]

Will some microscope shots help?

I took three of starfish were I think I see plates. If there are at least a few I can use the piece as a learning teaching tool which I'm fine with. If not than not.

I took a bunch of shots of the brittle star center, legs and tips. I figure if nothing else, some good pics can help someone else since I can't seem to find a thread on these here on the forum like with dino stuff.

 

[Brevicollis]

Try to take some pictures under UV light. Then, all of the added material should glow or be more visible.

[jikohr]

2 minutes ago, Brevicolis said:

Try to take some pictures under UV light. Then, all of the added material should glow or be more visible.

First thing I did when I saw these for sale and when I got home was shine a UV on them.

Funny enough when I used a UV on the starfish the only parts that stood out where the three arm tips.

I misplaced it at the moment, but I'll post some pics with it as soon as I find it.

[jikohr]

20 hours ago, Brevicolis said:

Try to take some pictures under UV light. Then, all of the added material should glow or be more visible.

Guess what I found!

The weird thing is, I'm not really seeing anything fluoresce outside of one tiny spot of the brittle star.

Or are the "orange" areas in the photo fluorescing? 

[ezeemonee]

Brittle Star looks legit!  Nobody would spend the time to fake the additional leg crossing over the body.  Also that 5 pointed "ninja star" in the middle of the brittle star looks just like what I have on the ones I found in California.  Kind of a distinguishing feature to look for when hunting for these.   

[Tidgy's Dad]

I think that they are both real.