6.3" Cretaceous Fossil Fish (Scombroclupea) - Lebanon

Cretaceous Fossil Fish (Scombroclupea) - Lebanon #200687

This is a 6.3" long, Cretaceous fossil fish (Scombroclupea). It was quarried from the famous marine lagerstätte near Hakel, Lebanon. There is what appears to be the spine of a second fish in the stomach of the Scombroclupea. Additionally, the partial beak of a needle fish is bisecting the tail of the complete fish. All of the observable fossils are well preserved and, aside from a few cracks, the limestone is in good condition as well.

Comes with an acrylic display stand.

The discovery of amazingly preserved marine fossils near Hakel, Lebanon dates back many centuries. In fact, they were first mentioned in writing by Herodotus, over 450 years before the birth of Christ. The first scientific work on these localities began in the 1800s and these deposits have been meticulously quarried by several Lebanese families for over a century. We purchase our specimens directly from one of these families that has worked the quarries for generations.

These deposits represent a warm, shallow sea and have yielded over 70 types of fish as well as numerous other genera found nowhere else in the world. The preservation on many of these specimens is truly amazing including examples of soft bodied preservation.

A photo of the quarry at Hakel, Lebanon