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Fossil Squid from Hakel, Lebanon
In recent years, a number of well preserved Cretaceous marine fossils have
been found in the shale and limestone beds of Lebanon. Fossils from the area
cover a variety of fish orders (including Sharks, skates, and unique species of
fish), crustacean (lots and lots of shrimp), and and the occasional cephalopod.
Most of the river upper cephalopod fossils consist of paleoctopus, which
resemble cuttlefish.
In this case I was able to obtain a rare squid type that is very different from
the paleoctopus. The species is not yet determined but suspected to be from the
( ).
This specimen is very remarkable because of it's amazing soft-body preservation.
All 8 arms are visible, almost down to impressions of grooves and possibly
suction cups. The beak is visible where the arms meet. There are two impressions
that might represent the eyes. The ink sack is present and obvious, and the rest
of the body down to the tail are all present.
Definitely a rare piece in the history of cephalopod evolution.
The complete squid.
Close-up of tentacles, beak, and eyes.
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