Description
Rare Coccodus Fossil Fish – Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous, Hjoula Quarry, Lebanon
This Rare Coccodus Fossil Fish is an exceptional and fully natural specimen from the world-renowned Hjoula Quarry, located in the Keserwan–Jbeil Governorate of Lebanon. Dating to the Cenomanian Stage of the Upper Cretaceous Period (approximately 98–95 million years ago), this beautifully preserved fossil captures the distinctive characteristics of the extinct genus Coccodus, a prehistoric fish famed for its unusual cranial and dental features.
Each specimen is 100% genuine and natural as found, with no artificial restoration or enhancement. The photo shows the actual fossil you will receive, including a 1cm scale cube for accurate sizing reference. Every piece is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, verifying its provenance, geological age, and authenticity. This fossil represents one of the most striking examples of marine life preserved in the fine-grained limestones of the Lebanese “Fish Beds.”
Geological and Stratigraphic Context
The Coccodus fossil comes from the Hjoula Limestone Formation, part of the Cenomanian-aged Upper Cretaceous sequence deposited within the Tethys Ocean, a vast tropical sea that once separated Africa and Eurasia. During this period, the Hjoula and Hakel regions were part of a shallow marine basin where fine carbonate mud accumulated under anoxic (oxygen-poor) conditions.
These unique conditions—low oxygen levels, fine sedimentation, and minimal disturbance—prevented the decay of organic remains and created one of the world’s greatest fossil Lagerstätten (sites of exceptional preservation). The fossils from Hjoula are renowned for their completeness, detail, and scientific significance, often preserving delicate skeletal structures and even impressions of soft tissues.
This geological environment produced an unparalleled diversity of marine fossils, including fish, crustaceans, ammonites, echinoderms, and plants, all preserved in creamy micritic limestone with fine contrast and clarity.
Fossil Type and Scientific Classification
- Fossil Type: Ray-finned Fish (Coccodus)
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Actinopterygii
- Order: Pycnodontiformes
- Family: Coccodontidae
- 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
The genus Coccodus belongs to the extinct family Coccodontidae, a group of pycnodontid fishes known for their distinctive skull and jaw structure. Members of this family are characterised by their laterally compressed bodies, large dorsal spines, and flattened, crushing teeth—adaptations suited to feeding on hard-shelled organisms such as molluscs and crustaceans.
Coccodus fossils are among the most scientifically important fish remains from Lebanon, illustrating evolutionary adaptations that allowed pycnodonts to thrive in Cretaceous reef environments.
Morphology and Preservation
This fossilised Coccodus displays the characteristic morphology that makes this species so fascinating to collectors and researchers alike. The broad, oval body is preserved in natural relief within the limestone, with clear articulation of the vertebral column, pectoral girdle, and fin rays. The large dorsal fin spine—one of the genus’s defining traits—is often preserved with fine structural detail, while the cranium and jaw region show the distinctive dental plate arrangement typical of pycnodont fishes.
The carbonised bone material contrasts strikingly with the pale cream-coloured limestone matrix, highlighting each anatomical feature with clarity. Under magnification, one can often discern the fine patterning of scales and fin rays, testifying to the exceptional depositional conditions of the Hjoula Formation.
These fossils not only display beauty and artistry in natural preservation but also provide crucial data for understanding ancient marine ecosystems. The high fidelity of preservation allows paleontologists to reconstruct feeding strategies, locomotion, and evolutionary relationships among early teleosts.
Geological and Paleoenvironmental Significance
The Hjoula Fish Beds of Lebanon rank among the most important fossil sites in the world, documenting life in the Tethys Ocean during the Cenomanian Stage. At this time, global sea levels were high, creating extensive shallow marine environments rich in coral reefs and seagrass meadows.
The anoxic seafloor conditions in Hjoula enabled the exceptional preservation of delicate marine organisms that would normally decay rapidly, providing a rare window into the biodiversity of Cretaceous marine ecosystems. Fossils from this locality are often described as “time capsules,” perfectly encapsulating ancient life forms as they appeared nearly 100 million years ago.
The discovery of Coccodus fossils in these beds has been central to understanding the evolutionary history of pycnodontiform fishes, an ancient order that persisted for over 200 million years before going extinct near the end of the Eocene.
Collector and Display Significance
This Rare Coccodus Fossil Fish from Hjoula Quarry is a scientifically significant and visually striking specimen—ideal for collectors, educators, and museums alike. Its natural contrast, clarity of preservation, and historical provenance make it a museum-quality display piece representing one of the most iconic fossil localities on Earth.
Each specimen tells a story of ancient life from the Cenomanian Tethys Ocean, capturing a unique moment in geological time. The exquisite preservation of Coccodus fossils, paired with their rarity, makes them highly sought-after by collectors worldwide.
All our fossils are 100% genuine, ethically sourced, and supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity verifying their age, origin, and classification. This Coccodus fossil stands as a remarkable relic of Earth’s prehistoric oceans—a testament to nature’s artistry preserved across 95 million years of geological history.
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