Sedenhorstia Fossil Fish Cenomanian Upper Cretaceous Hjoula Quarry Lebanon

Description

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

This beautiful Sedenhorstia Fossil Fish is an authentic, naturally preserved specimen from the world-famous Hjoula Quarry in the Keserwan–Jbeil Governorate of Lebanon. Dating to the Cenomanian Stage of the Upper Cretaceous (approximately 98–95 million years ago), this fossil captures a striking example of early marine life from the ancient Tethys Ocean. Known for its exceptional level of preservation and scientific significance, Sedenhorstia represents one of the most fascinating fossil fish genera from this geological era.

Each piece is 100% natural and unaltered, with no restoration or reconstruction. The photo shows the exact specimen you will receive, supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity verifying its provenance, geological age, and identity. Carefully chosen for its aesthetic quality and scientific integrity, this specimen is ideal for collectors, educators, and fossil enthusiasts alike.

Geological and Stratigraphic Context

This fossil originates from the Hjoula Quarry, part of Lebanon’s renowned Cenomanian Fish Beds within the Hjoula Formation. These limestones were deposited in the Upper Cretaceous, approximately 98–95 million years ago, during a time when much of the region lay submerged beneath the warm, tropical waters of the Tethys Ocean.

The depositional environment was a quiet, low-oxygen lagoonal setting — a shallow marine basin where fine carbonate sediments accumulated in still water. The anoxic conditions (lack of oxygen at the seafloor) prevented decay and scavenging, allowing soft-bodied organisms and delicate skeletal remains to be preserved in exceptional detail.

This environment produced one of the world’s most celebrated Konservat-Lagerstätten fossil sites — a rare geological formation that preserves organisms with exceptional fidelity, including fish, crustaceans, plants, and even soft tissues. The Hjoula and Hakel quarries in Lebanon are globally recognised as some of the finest fossil deposits from the Cretaceous period, offering unparalleled insights into marine ecosystems of the ancient Tethys Sea.

Taxonomy and Classification

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

Members of the genus Sedenhorstia were predatory ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Elopiformes, an early group of teleost fishes related to modern tarpons and ladyfishes. Their fossils provide key insights into the early diversification of teleosts, one of the most successful vertebrate lineages on Earth.

Morphological and Anatomical Features

The Sedenhorstia Fossil Fish displays the elongated, torpedo-shaped body typical of swift marine predators. Its skeletal structure and dentition reveal that it was a fast, active hunter, adapted to life in open water. The preservation of fine anatomical details makes this specimen particularly appealing for collectors and researchers alike.

Distinctive features include:

• Streamlined, fusiform body ideal for rapid swimming.
• Well-preserved vertebral column with vertebrae clearly articulated along the midline.
• Long, narrow jaws lined with sharp teeth suited for grasping prey.
• Elongate dorsal and anal fins, giving balance and control during pursuit.
• Occasionally, impressions of soft tissue and fin rays visible within the limestone matrix.

The anatomy of Sedenhorstia suggests it was a mid-level predator in the ancient Tethyan ecosystem, feeding on smaller fish and crustaceans. The fossil’s fine preservation allows close study of its evolutionary traits, linking primitive teleost features with adaptations seen in more advanced fish groups.

Depositional Environment and Paleoecology

The Hjoula Basin during the Cenomanian was part of a warm, tropical marine environment along the margin of the Tethys Ocean. This sea connected what is now the Mediterranean with the Indian Ocean, forming a corridor of immense biological diversity. The region’s calm, stratified waters created perfect conditions for fossilisation — fine carbonate muds gently enveloped dead organisms, preserving them in their natural form.

Over millions of years, the seafloor sediments were compressed into fine-grained limestone, entombing marine life in exquisite detail. The fossils from Hjoula often retain even the most delicate features, such as fin rays, scales, and jaw structures. The light beige to golden limestone matrix contrasts beautifully with the fossilised bone, making these specimens both scientifically valuable and visually striking.

The Sedenhorstia Fossil Fish serves as a vivid reminder of this vibrant marine ecosystem, where predators, plankton, and reef life coexisted in an ocean that covered what is now the Lebanese mountains.

Scientific and Collectible Significance

Fossils of Sedenhorstia are prized for their excellent preservation, rarity, and scientific importance. They are used by paleontologists to study the evolutionary history of early teleost fishes, providing valuable data on how marine vertebrates adapted and diversified during the Cretaceous.

For collectors, this specimen represents both a work of natural art and a piece of evolutionary history. Its sharp detail, natural matrix, and unmistakable form make it a striking display fossil and an educational piece for anyone interested in paleontology or marine evolution.

Each fossil comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, guaranteeing it as a 100% genuine Cenomanian fossil from the Hjoula Quarry, Lebanon. This timeless piece of Earth’s geological heritage is not just a fossil — it’s a glimpse into a vanished world beneath the ancient Tethys Ocean, preserved for nearly 100 million years.