Rare Cretaceous Lebanese Stingray Fossil
Fish Positive and Negative
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Name:
Cyclobatis major
Age:
Middle
Cretaceous, Cenomanian
Stage
Size:
Stingray is 4 3/4 inch long, on 7 1/2 by 8 1/2 inch matrix
Location:
Haqel, Lebanon
Code:
2949
Price:
$1500
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Cenomanian (97.5 - 91 million year old) sublithographic
limestone deposits of Haqel, Lebanon rival the Eocene
(50 million year old) deposits of Wyoming for the degree
of preservation and variety of fish to be found. The other
lifeforms found with them are indicative of a warm and shallow
sea environment. The deposits themselves are found in basins
only a few hundred meters across, and are indicative of
slow deposition during a stagnant stage. They are currently
to be found at depths up to 800 feet. The real diffulty
in collecting is the unrest prevalent in the area. This
particular fish is related to one highly-prized in Green
River deposits, a stingray. This one is the unusual short-tailed
ray Cyclobatis major (actually a skate). What is even more
unusual is that we have both the part and counterpart presented.
Cartilage does not preserve as well as bone, so the quality
of preservation here is exceptional. Rays of any type are
quite rare. |
EDCOPE
Enterprises Purchase
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to enlarge
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