Rare Carpopenaeus callirostris Fossil Shrimp Cenomanian Upper Cretaceous Hjoula Quarry Lebanon

Description

Rare Carpopenaeus callirostris Fossil Shrimp – Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous, Hjoula Quarry, Lebanon

This Rare Carpopenaeus callirostris Fossil Shrimp is a beautifully preserved and completely 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 Period (approximately 98–95 million years ago), this fossil represents one of the most iconic and scientifically important crustaceans from the renowned Lebanese “Fish Beds.”

Each specimen is 100% genuine and natural as found, with no artificial restoration or enhancement. The photo shows the exact specimen you will receive, including a 1cm scale cube for accurate size reference. Every fossil is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, verifying its geological provenance and age. This particular species, Carpopenaeus callirostris, is prized for its exceptional preservation and striking anatomical detail, making it a museum-quality example of Cretaceous marine life.

Geological and Stratigraphic Context

This specimen originates from the Hjoula Limestone Formation, a Cenomanian-aged Upper Cretaceous deposit renowned worldwide for its extraordinary preservation of marine organisms. The limestone layers of Hjoula and Hakel, known collectively as the “Fish Beds,” were formed in low-oxygen marine basins within the ancient Tethys Ocean.

During the Late Cretaceous, this region was a tropical seaway with calm, stagnant bottom waters. Fine carbonate mud settled slowly across the seafloor, trapping fish, crustaceans, and other organisms in an anoxic (oxygen-poor) environment that prevented decay and disturbance. Over millions of years, these sediments lithified into the creamy micritic limestone characteristic of the Hjoula region.

The result is a fossil Lagerstätte—a rare geological setting where delicate creatures are preserved with extraordinary fidelity, including appendages, carapaces, and sometimes soft tissues. Fossils from the Hjoula and Hakel quarries are now displayed in major museums around the world and are highly sought after by collectors for their beauty, rarity, and scientific value.

Fossil Type and Scientific Classification

• Fossil Type: Shrimp (Carpopenaeus callirostris)
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Subphylum: Crustacea
• Class: Malacostraca
• Order: Decapoda
• Superfamily: Penaeoidea
• Family: Carpopenaeidae
• Genus: Carpopenaeus
• Species: C. callirostris
• Geological Stage: Cenomanian (~98–95 million years ago)
• Period: Upper Cretaceous
• Formation: Hjoula Limestone Formation (“The Fish Beds”)
• Locality: Hjoula Quarry, Keserwan–Jbeil Governorate, Lebanon

This shrimp species was first described in the 19th century and remains one of the best-known crustaceans from the Lebanese Cretaceous. Carpopenaeus callirostris belongs to an extinct family of penaeid shrimps, which are ancestral to many modern prawn and shrimp lineages seen today in tropical seas.

Morphological Features and Preservation

The Carpopenaeus callirostris fossil is celebrated for its lifelike preservation, displaying exceptional detail of the exoskeleton, antennae, abdomen, and pleopods (swimming legs). The fossil typically reveals the elongated, segmented body characteristic of decapods, with the cephalothorax (head and thorax) and abdomen clearly distinguished.

Under close observation, the carapace ridges, fine limb articulation, and even traces of the rostrum (snout projection) can often be discerned. The long, delicate antennae are occasionally preserved, giving a vivid sense of this shrimp’s graceful anatomy. The fossil’s dark brown to black carbonised remains contrast beautifully against the pale cream limestone matrix, highlighting its intricate structure.

The quality of preservation seen in this specimen is the result of the unique depositional environment of the Hjoula Formation. Rapid burial in fine-grained carbonate mud and lack of biological disturbance allowed delicate exoskeletal features to remain intact for nearly 100 million years.

Paleoenvironment and Evolutionary Significance

The Cenomanian Stage marked a period of warm global climates and extensive marine transgressions, when large portions of the continents were flooded by shallow seas. The Hjoula Fish Beds capture a cross-section of marine life from this era, representing a thriving tropical ecosystem on the margin of the Tethys Ocean.

Carpopenaeus callirostris lived in these shallow marine environments, likely inhabiting soft sedimentary bottoms and feeding on detritus or small planktonic organisms. Its well-developed appendages and streamlined body made it an efficient swimmer and burrower.

The discovery of C. callirostris fossils has been instrumental in understanding the evolution of decapod crustaceans, particularly the early diversification of penaeid shrimps during the Cretaceous. The family Carpopenaeidae exhibits a range of primitive and advanced features, bridging the gap between Jurassic decapods and modern prawn lineages.

These fossils also provide insights into Cenomanian paleoecology, illustrating the biodiversity of marine invertebrates and the exceptional fossilisation potential of anoxic carbonate basins.

Collector and Display Significance

This Rare Carpopenaeus callirostris Fossil Shrimp from Hjoula Quarry is an extraordinary example of natural fossil preservation and a striking addition to any serious fossil collection. Its anatomical completeness, clarity of preservation, and scientific relevance make it an ideal display piece for collectors, educators, and museums alike.

Each fossil tells a story of an ancient ocean and a species long extinct yet preserved in stunning detail. The elegance and fragility of Carpopenaeus callirostris make it not only a specimen of great paleontological value but also a work of natural art, formed by geological processes across 95 million years.

All our fossils are 100% genuine, ethically sourced, and supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity confirming their provenance and classification. This Carpopenaeus callirostris fossil embodies the timeless beauty of Lebanon’s Cenomanian marine life and the enduring wonder of fossil preservation from the depths of the Tethys Ocean.