Carpopenaeus callirostris Fossil Shrimp Cenomanian Upper Cretaceous Hakel Quarry Lebanon

Description

Carpopenaeus callirostris Fossil Shrimp – Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous, Hakel Quarry, Lebanon

This exquisite Carpopenaeus callirostris Fossil Shrimp is a genuine and beautifully preserved specimen from the Hakel Quarry, located in the Mont-Liban region of Lebanon. Dated to the Cenomanian Stage of the Upper Cretaceous Period, around 98–95 million years ago, this fossil is part of one of the most scientifically important marine fossil sites in the world. The specimen was formed in fine-grained lithographic limestone that captures even the most delicate details of the shrimp’s anatomy — from its segmented body and antennae to the graceful structure of its limbs.

Each piece is 100% natural and unaltered, exactly as discovered in the rock matrix. The photo shows the actual fossil you will receive, accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity verifying its geological origin, age, and classification.

Geological and Stratigraphic Context

This fossil originates from the renowned Hakel Quarry in central Lebanon, part of the Upper Cretaceous marine deposits known as the “Fish Beds.” These limestones are world-famous for producing exceptionally preserved fossils, including fish, crustaceans, and marine plants. The Cenomanian Stage represents a period approximately 98–95 million years ago, during which warm, shallow seas covered much of the region that is now the Middle East.

The Hakel and Hjoula formations were deposited in anoxic lagoonal basins — environments with very low oxygen levels that prevented decay and scavenging. As a result, organic remains settled gently to the seafloor and were rapidly buried by fine carbonate muds, preserving them with remarkable fidelity. This lack of disturbance led to museum-quality fossils where even soft tissues, appendages, and exoskeletal textures are visible in exquisite detail.

Fossils from the Hakel Quarry provide an extraordinary glimpse into the marine biodiversity of the ancient Tethys Ocean, making them invaluable to paleontologists and collectors alike.

Taxonomy and Classification

• Fossil Type: Crustacean (Shrimp)
• Scientific Name: Carpopenaeus callirostris
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Subphylum: Crustacea
• Class: Malacostraca
• Order: Decapoda
• Family: Carpopenaeidae
• Genus: Carpopenaeus
• Geological Stage: Cenomanian (Upper Cretaceous)
• Locality: Hakel Quarry, Hakel, Mont-Liban, Lebanon

Carpopenaeus callirostris belongs to the Decapod crustaceans, a group that includes modern shrimp, prawns, lobsters, and crabs. This particular genus is a classic representative of Mesozoic marine life and has been documented extensively in Lebanon’s Cretaceous fossil record since the 19th century.

The species name callirostris refers to its elegant rostrum — the pointed projection extending from the front of the head — which is often one of the most striking features seen in well-preserved examples such as this specimen.

Morphological and Anatomical Features

The morphology of Carpopenaeus callirostris is beautifully preserved in this fossil, with key diagnostic features that make it highly desirable to collectors and researchers. The fossil clearly shows the elongated, segmented abdomen, cephalothorax, and fine details of the pleopods (swimming legs) and pereiopods (walking legs).

Typical features include:

• A slender, laterally compressed body, ideal for agile swimming.
• A distinct rostrum, gracefully tapering forward from the carapace.
• Long antennae and antennules, which are often visible in fine specimens such as this one.
• Well-defined exoskeleton segmentation, with subtle articulation between thoracic and abdominal regions.
• Evidence of the tail fan (uropods and telson), used for propulsion.

The fossilisation process in Hakel limestones has preserved the natural outlines and even the internal anatomical impressions, offering an unparalleled view of crustacean structure from the Cretaceous seas.

Depositional Environment and Paleobiology

The Cenomanian seas of Lebanon were part of the Tethys Ocean, a vast tropical marine system that stretched between the ancient continents of Gondwana and Laurasia. These waters were rich in life, teeming with fish, ammonites, crustaceans, and early forms of marine reptiles.

In the quiet, oxygen-depleted seafloor basins of Hakel, the absence of strong currents or scavengers allowed the remains of organisms like Carpopenaeus to settle undisturbed. Fine carbonate muds quickly covered the remains, sealing them from decay and preserving delicate features that rarely survive in other fossil sites.

This type of preservation — known as Konservat-Lagerstätte fossilisation — captures even soft tissues and appendages, making Lebanese fossils among the most scientifically important and visually striking marine fossils on Earth.

Scientific and Collectible Significance

This Fossil Shrimp – Carpopenaeus callirostris is a fine example of Upper Cretaceous marine life preserved with near-perfect anatomical detail. Specimens of this quality illustrate the delicate balance of ancient marine ecosystems and provide crucial evidence of evolutionary continuity among decapod crustaceans.

Collectors prize these fossils for their aesthetic beauty, natural composition, and the exceptional craftsmanship of nature that reveals even the tiniest of limbs and appendages. Each specimen tells a 95-million-year-old story of life and preservation beneath the calm, ancient seas of the Tethys Ocean.

This genuine Lebanese fossil shrimp is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity, confirming its scientific classification, provenance, and geological age. A truly remarkable addition for any fossil enthusiast, museum display, or private collection, this specimen offers a rare glimpse into the ancient marine world of the Cretaceous.