Shark Vertebra Fossil Eocene Morocco Genuine Marine Specimen Authentic North African Elasmobranch Centre Display with COA

Shark Vertebra Fossil – Eocene Epoch, Morocco

This genuine Shark Vertebra Fossil from Morocco dates to the Eocene Epoch, a dynamic period of marine evolution approximately 56 to 33.9 million years ago. Preserved within sedimentary deposits that once formed part of a shallow tropical sea, this fossil represents the mineralised remains of an ancient marine predator belonging to the subclass Elasmobranchii, the group that includes sharks, rays, and skates.

You will receive the exact specimen shown in the photographs. The fossil has been carefully selected for its preservation quality, structural integrity, and display appeal. Full sizing is available in the listing photos. This is a genuine fossil specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card.

Geological Age & Depositional Environment

The Eocene Epoch forms part of the Paleogene Period and is renowned for its rich marine fossil beds. During this time, much of what is now Morocco was submerged beneath warm, shallow seas connected to the ancient Tethys Ocean. These nutrient-rich waters supported diverse marine ecosystems populated by sharks, bony fish, marine reptiles, and invertebrates.

Shark vertebrae from Moroccan Eocene deposits are typically recovered from phosphate-rich sedimentary layers. These phosphatic beds formed in upwelling marine environments where high biological productivity contributed to exceptional fossil preservation. Rapid burial in fine marine sediments helped protect skeletal elements from scavenging and erosion, allowing three-dimensional preservation of vertebral centra.

Fossil Type & Morphological Features

This specimen represents a vertebral centrum, the central disc-shaped component of a shark’s vertebra. In sharks, vertebrae are composed primarily of cartilage in life, but the centra are reinforced with calcified cartilage arranged in concentric lamellae. After burial and fossilisation, these calcified structures are often preserved and mineralised.

Typical features visible on Eocene shark vertebrae include:

• A circular to slightly oval centrum
• Concentric growth rings reflecting seasonal or developmental growth patterns
• A central foramen or depression where the notochord once passed
• Radial structural markings extending from the centre outward
• Slight concavity on one or both articular surfaces (amphicoelous structure)

The detailed ring structure can sometimes be compared to tree growth rings and is a defining characteristic of fossil elasmobranch vertebrae.

Taxonomic Context

Sharks belong to the Class Chondrichthyes and Order Carcharhiniformes, Lamniformes, or other related elasmobranch orders depending on species. While isolated vertebrae are generally not assigned to species level without associated teeth or skeletal elements, their morphology confirms origin from a large cartilaginous fish within the shark lineage.

Eocene Moroccan deposits are well known for yielding members of families such as Otodontidae, Lamnidae, and Carcharhinidae, reflecting the diversity of predatory sharks present in Paleogene seas.

Preservation & Natural Characteristics

Fossil shark vertebrae from Moroccan phosphate basins commonly exhibit natural tones ranging from sandy beige and brown to darker mineralised hues depending on the surrounding sediment chemistry. Surface texture may vary from smooth and compact to subtly granular, reflecting mineral replacement during fossilisation.

The three-dimensional form and radial symmetry make shark vertebrae highly displayable fossils, offering both scientific interest and visual appeal.

Collecting, Educational & Display Value

Eocene shark vertebrae are sought after by fossil collectors, natural history enthusiasts, educators, and those with an interest in prehistoric marine life. Their distinctive circular form makes them ideal cabinet specimens, desk displays, or additions to curated fossil collections.

This carefully chosen Moroccan specimen provides a tangible connection to ancient ocean ecosystems and the evolutionary history of sharks, a lineage that has persisted for over 400 million years.

Authenticity & Presentation

• Genuine Shark Vertebra Fossil
• Geological Age: Eocene Epoch (Paleogene Period)
• Origin: Morocco, North Africa
• Marine sedimentary phosphate deposits
• Three-dimensional preserved vertebral centrum
• Exact specimen shown in photographs
• Includes Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card
• Full sizing available in listing images

A distinctive fossil from Morocco’s renowned Eocene marine deposits, offering both geological significance and strong collector appeal.