Dercitis serpentinus, Cretaceous

DERCITIS SERPENTINUS, Cretaceous
Fossil from Hjoula, Lebanon.
Measurements: 50 x 42 cm.
Length: 70 cm.

Fossil specimen of Dercetis serpentinus, one of the rarest species from the Cretaceous sites of Hjoula, Lebanon. The quarries near the town of Hjoula, which exploit Cretaceous marine strata belonging to the Sannine Formation, have yielded some of the most extraordinary marine fossils in the world. These deposits have revealed numerous new species of fish and crustaceans, as well as rare and exceptionally preserved cephalopods.

Dercetis serpentinus stands out for its characteristic elongated and serpentiform body, a feature that makes this species one of the most striking and prized in Cretaceous marine vertebrate paleontology. Currently, authentic specimens of this quality and size are difficult to acquire on the international market.