Reviews
36" Cretaceous Fossil Sawfish-Like Ray (Libanopritis) - Lebanon
This is a spectacular 36.3" long fossil sawfish-like ray (Libanopritis hiram) collected from the Sannine Formation near Hjoula, Lebanon. It shows detailed soft bodied preservation and has been nicely prepared. Just check out all of the small rostral barbs that have been exposed. The sawfish is nicely centered on a 38.1 x 11.75" slab of limestone. It's by far the largest Lebanon sawfish we've had the opportunity to acquire!
There are multiple repaired cracks through the specimen as it was collected in multiple pieces. There is some restoration along repaired cracks, mainly at the base of the rostrum and the very tip of the tail. Overall restoration is about 2-3%. The rock has been backed for stability and the specimen is accompanied by a metal display stand. We can add wall mounting hardware to the back of the specimen upon request.
Libanopritis is a member of the sclerorhynchid family of rays. Members of this family are characterized by a nose drawn out into a rostrum lined with teeth. Despite their close similarity in appearance to modern-day sawfish (family Pristidae), the two are not closely related, sawfish being instead grouped with guitarfish in the order Rhinopristiformes. Libanopritis would have swam slowly along the ocean bottom looking for prey. When resting it probably covered itself with the sand of the ocean floor like modern rays.
There are multiple repaired cracks through the specimen as it was collected in multiple pieces. There is some restoration along repaired cracks, mainly at the base of the rostrum and the very tip of the tail. Overall restoration is about 2-3%. The rock has been backed for stability and the specimen is accompanied by a metal display stand. We can add wall mounting hardware to the back of the specimen upon request.
Libanopritis is a member of the sclerorhynchid family of rays. Members of this family are characterized by a nose drawn out into a rostrum lined with teeth. Despite their close similarity in appearance to modern-day sawfish (family Pristidae), the two are not closely related, sawfish being instead grouped with guitarfish in the order Rhinopristiformes. Libanopritis would have swam slowly along the ocean bottom looking for prey. When resting it probably covered itself with the sand of the ocean floor like modern rays.
The discovery of amazingly preserved marine fossils near Hjoula, Lebanon dates back many centuries. In fact, they were first mentioned in writing by Herodotus, over 450 years before the birth of Christ. The first scientific work on these localities began in the 1800s: these deposits have been meticulously quarried by several Lebanese families for over a century. We purchase our specimens directly from one of these families.
These deposits represent a warm, shallow sea of the Middle Cretaceous, and have yielded over 70 types of fish and numerous other genera found nowhere else in the world. The preservation on many of these specimens is truly amazing: many examples of soft bodied preservation have been found.
A photo of one of the quarries at Hjoula, Lebanon
These deposits represent a warm, shallow sea of the Middle Cretaceous, and have yielded over 70 types of fish and numerous other genera found nowhere else in the world. The preservation on many of these specimens is truly amazing: many examples of soft bodied preservation have been found.
A photo of one of the quarries at Hjoula, Lebanon
SPECIES
Libanopritis hiram
LOCATION
Hjoula, Byblos, Lebanon
FORMATION
Sannine Formation
SIZE
36.3" long on 38.1 x 11.75" limestone, Weighs 60 lbs
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#270252
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