These modern crinoids are much more flexible and can move across the sea floor, giving them an advantage in the changing oceans of the time. The resilience of crinoids is evident in their ...

Two underwater sea lilies were eaten and regurgitated around 66 million years ago. They were preserved as fossilized vomit.

When the team analyzed the chemical composition of the fossils, they identified molecules similar to quinones—compounds found in modern crinoids that function as pigments or toxins to deter predators.