Hemisaurida Fossil Fish Cenomanian Upper Cretaceous Hjoula Quarry Lebanon

Description

Hemisaurida Fossil Fish – Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous, Hjoula Quarry, Lebanon

This rare and scientifically important Hemisaurida Fossil Fish is an authentic, 100% natural specimen from the world-famous Hjoula Quarry, located in the Keserwan–Jbeil Governorate of Lebanon. Dating back to the Cenomanian Stage of the Upper Cretaceous (approximately 98–95 million years ago), this fossil represents one of the most iconic marine predators from the ancient Tethys Ocean. Exceptional preservation and geological significance make this specimen a true collector’s piece and an invaluable record of prehistoric marine life.

Each fossil is completely natural and unrestored, carefully selected for its aesthetic and scientific quality. The photo shows the exact fossil you will receive, and it is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity confirming its identification, provenance, and age.

Geological and Stratigraphic Context

The Hjoula Quarry is part of the renowned Cenomanian Fish Beds within the Upper Cretaceous Hjoula Formation, Lebanon. These strata represent a globally significant Konservat-Lagerstätte—a rare fossil site where soft tissues and fine skeletal details are preserved with remarkable clarity.

Around 98 to 95 million years ago, during the Cenomanian Stage, Lebanon was located along the northern margin of the Tethys Ocean. The region consisted of a series of shallow, tropical basins where fine carbonate muds accumulated under oxygen-poor conditions. These anoxic marine environments prevented decay and disturbance by scavengers, allowing fish, crustaceans, and other marine organisms to be fossilised in their natural positions.

The Hjoula and nearby Hakel quarries are celebrated for yielding fossils of exceptional completeness and anatomical precision, providing unparalleled insight into the diversity of Late Cretaceous marine ecosystems.

Taxonomy and Scientific Classification

• Fossil Type: Ray-Finned Fish (Actinopterygii)
• Scientific Name: Hemisaurida sp.
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Actinopterygii
• Order: Alepisauriformes
• Family: Dercetidae
• Genus: Hemisaurida
• Geological Stage: Cenomanian (Upper Cretaceous)
• Formation: Hjoula Fish Beds
• Locality: Hjoula Quarry, Keserwan–Jbeil Governorate, Lebanon

Hemisaurida belongs to a group of extinct predatory ray-finned fishes that thrived in the warm, shallow seas of the Cretaceous period. Related to the modern lancetfish (Alepisaurus), it was a streamlined predator built for speed and efficiency, well-adapted to hunting in open marine waters. Fossils of Hemisaurida from Lebanon are among the most complete examples known and are prized for their scientific and aesthetic qualities.

Morphological and Anatomical Features

The Hemisaurida Fossil Fish exhibits a combination of elegant form and anatomical precision characteristic of the Hjoula deposits. Its morphology reveals the adaptations of a swift, active predator:

• Elongated, torpedo-shaped body ideal for high-speed swimming.
• Well-preserved cranial features, showing strong jaws with sharp, conical teeth suited for grasping prey.
• Clearly articulated vertebral column running from skull to tail, displaying the fish’s skeletal integrity.
• Fins with visible fin rays, demonstrating excellent preservation and anatomical definition.
• Caudal fin (tail) shaped for rapid propulsion through open water.
• Occasionally, scale impressions and fin membranes can be seen, adding aesthetic and scientific appeal.

This morphology indicates that Hemisaurida was an agile hunter, preying on smaller fish and invertebrates in the warm waters of the Tethys. Its anatomy and hydrodynamic design place it among the advanced predatory teleosts of the Cretaceous, showing evolutionary traits leading toward modern fast-swimming fishes.

Depositional Environment and Paleobiology

The Hjoula Formation represents a low-energy, lagoonal to outer shelf environment within the Tethys Ocean. Fine carbonate sedimentation in this calm marine basin captured marine organisms in exceptional detail. The seafloor’s anoxic conditions halted decomposition, allowing even fragile bones, scales, and fins to be preserved in fine-grained limestone.

During the Cenomanian, this region was part of an extensive tropical marine ecosystem, home to a vast range of species, including ammonites, crustaceans, sharks, and marine reptiles. The Hemisaurida would have been among the apex fish predators of this ecosystem, demonstrating a streamlined, hydrodynamic body adapted for pursuit and ambush hunting.

The Hjoula and Hakel fish beds continue to be studied by paleontologists for their unique window into mid-Cretaceous marine biodiversity. Each specimen tells part of the story of the evolution of teleost fishes — the most diverse vertebrate group alive today.

Scientific and Collectible Importance

Fossils of Hemisaurida are highly sought after due to their rarity, fine preservation, and evolutionary significance. They offer a tangible link to the age of the dinosaurs, when marine life flourished in the ancient Tethys Sea. The fine-grained beige limestone matrix typical of Hjoula fossils beautifully frames the dark fossilised skeleton, creating a striking contrast ideal for display and study alike.

This specimen is both an exquisite collector’s piece and a scientifically valuable record of Cretaceous marine life. It provides an extraordinary glimpse into the anatomy and ecology of one of the ocean’s ancient predators.

Each fossil is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, confirming it as a 100% genuine Cenomanian fossil from Hjoula Quarry, Lebanon. A timeless piece of natural history, this Hemisaurida Fossil Fish embodies the beauty and wonder of life preserved in stone for nearly 100 million years.