Rare Diplomystus birdi Fossil Fish Cenomanian Upper Cretaceous Hakel Quarry Lebanon | Genuine Natural Specimen with COA

Description

Rare Diplomystus birdi Fossil Fish – Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous, Hakel Quarry, Lebanon

This rare Diplomystus birdi fossil fish specimen is a beautifully preserved example from the world-famous Hakel Quarry in Mont-Liban, Lebanon. Dated to the Cenomanian Stage of the Upper Cretaceous Period (approximately 98 to 95 million years ago), this fossil represents one of the most sought-after species from the renowned Lebanese fossil beds. Each specimen is 100% genuine and natural as found, showing exceptional preservation that captures the ancient marine life of the Tethys Ocean in stunning detail.

The photo shows the exact fossil you will receive, and the 1cm scale cube provides a clear sense of size and proportion. This exquisite specimen comes complete with a Certificate of Authenticity, ensuring its scientific and collectible value.

Geological and Stratigraphic Context

The fossil originates from the Hakel Quarry, a legendary site in Mount Lebanon (Mont-Liban) known for its Cenomanian-aged limestones. These marine deposits were formed in calm, shallow, and oxygen-depleted lagoons that once bordered the warm tropical coasts of the Tethys Ocean. Fine-grained limestone sediment settled undisturbed on the sea floor, capturing and preserving delicate organisms in extraordinary detail.

Over millions of years, these sediments lithified into micritic limestone, forming fossil beds that rank among the finest in the world. The Hakel Formation, along with its nearby counterparts Hajula and Sahel Alma, is celebrated for its Lagerstätten-quality preservation, producing fossils of exceptional completeness—including fish, crustaceans, and plants—that display intricate anatomical features.

This specific specimen of Diplomystus birdi was deposited within these anoxic conditions, where the lack of oxygen inhibited decay and prevented scavengers from disturbing the carcass. The result is a fossil that retains remarkable fidelity to the original anatomy of this ancient fish.

Fossil Type and Scientific Classification

• Fossil Type: Bony Fish (Teleost)
• Species: Diplomystus birdi
• Order: Clupeiformes
• Family: Ellimmichthyidae
• Geological Stage: Cenomanian (~98–95 million years ago)
• Period: Upper Cretaceous
• Formation: Hakel Limestone Formation
• Locality: Hakel Quarry, Mont-Liban, Lebanon

Diplomystus birdi is an extinct genus of clupeoid fish, closely related to modern herrings and sardines. Members of this genus are known for their elongated, compressed bodies, forked tails, and upturned jaws adapted for feeding near the surface. The Lebanese species, D. birdi, is one of the most complete and scientifically important fossil fish from the region, frequently used by paleontologists to study early teleost evolution during the Cretaceous.

Morphological Features and Preservation

This fossilised Diplomystus birdi displays exceptional anatomical detail, characteristic of the Hakel deposit’s world-class preservation. The fine limestone matrix allows the delicate structures—such as the fins, vertebral column, cranial bones, and scale imprints—to be clearly visible. The specimen’s upturned mouth, a diagnostic feature of Diplomystus, is well-defined, indicating a surface-feeding adaptation typical of this genus.

The body outline remains sharply delineated, and the fins are preserved in near-original orientation. The delicate rays of the pectoral and dorsal fins, as well as traces of the tail fin, reveal the symmetry and hydrodynamic efficiency of this ancient fish. Such completeness is rare, as most fossil fish from marine environments are fragmented or compressed.

The colour contrast between the carbonised fossil remains and the cream to beige limestone matrix highlights the fish’s body contours beautifully, making it both a scientifically valuable and aesthetically pleasing specimen.

Geological and Paleoenvironmental Significance

During the Cenomanian Stage, Lebanon’s coastal environment formed part of the Tethys Oceanic margin, a shallow tropical sea teeming with life. The region’s unique depositional environment—periodically cut off from open marine circulation—produced anoxic seabeds ideal for fossil preservation.

Diplomystus birdi lived in these warm waters alongside other well-known species such as Knightia, Clupea, and Rhynchodercetis. It occupied a mid-level position in the marine food web, feeding on plankton and small crustaceans near the surface. The presence of such diverse fish fauna provides vital evidence for the evolution of modern teleost lineages and the paleoecology of the Late Cretaceous seas.

The Lebanese fossil deposits are among the oldest and most famous fish-bearing localities in the world, frequently studied by major paleontological institutions for their insights into Cretaceous biodiversity and paleoenvironmental change.

Collector and Display Significance

This Rare Diplomystus birdi Fossil Fish is a prime example of natural history preserved in stone. Its excellent definition, fine matrix, and natural composition make it ideal for museum displays, private collections, or educational study. Unlike composite or restored fossils, this specimen is entirely natural as found, maintaining both its authenticity and scientific integrity.

With its elegant form and historical significance, Diplomystus birdi remains one of the most collectible fossil fish species from the Cretaceous of Lebanon. The Hakel deposits are now heavily restricted, making such genuine specimens increasingly rare on the market.

Every specimen we offer is 100% genuine, ethically sourced, and includes a Certificate of Authenticity verifying its provenance. This Diplomystus birdi fossil provides an extraordinary opportunity to own a tangible piece of Earth’s evolutionary story—an elegant window into the warm, tropical seas of the Cretaceous Tethys Ocean, preserved for nearly 100 million years.