Prionolepis Fossil Viper Fish (Lebanon) #06

Description

A Prionolepis viper fish fossil.  Features some good detail, one repair.

This specimen comes from Byblos, Lebanon and is roughly 98 million years old.  There are several sites in Byblos famous for their fossil fish and these sites represent some of the richest fish deposits in the world.  The first written evidence of fossil fish from Lebanon dates back to the 4th century when the Bishop of Palestine considered them to be evidence of Noah's flood.  A traveling companion of Louis IX also wrote of them in 1248, stating the king was presented with a stone containing a sea fish while staying in Sidon.

Condition: Good

Size: 6.5 inches (length fish, excluding surrounding rock)

Age: 98 Million Years (Cenomian)