Choose Your SpecimenFossil Fish
·Real Fossil
Carpopenaeus callirostris Shrimp
- Real Fossil
- 95 million years
- Ships worldwide
£26.99
● In stock — dispatched within 2 working days
An exquisitely preserved fossil shrimp from the famous Cretaceous limestone of Hakel, Lebanon. A beautiful, detailed window into the ancient Tethys Ocean.
Choose Your Exact Specimen
You will receive the exact fossil shown for your chosen specimen.
Only 1 of this specimen — once it's gone, it's gone.
Specimen Record
DTF-7D28B3AE-17231533Exact specimen — your selection
Each option is photographed individually; you receive the specimen you select.
- Species
- Carpopenaeus callirostris
- Identification confidence
- Not recorded
- Age
- 95 million years
- Geological period
- Late Cretaceous
- Formation
- Sannine Formation
- Locality
- Hakel, Lebanon
- Dimensions
- Matrix 5.5 × 4.5 cm; shrimp 3.2 cm (Matrix 2.2 × 1.8 in; shrimp 1.3 in)
- Weight
- 50g (1.8oz)
Condition & Treatment
- Repair
- Not recorded
- Restoration
- Not recorded
- Stabilisation
- Not recorded
- Polishing
- Not recorded
- Composite
- Not recorded
"Not recorded" means we hold no verified record for that detail — it is not a claim either way.
Curator Note
While Lebanese fossil fish are world-famous, delicate crustaceans like Carpopenaeus are much scarcer. The exceptional preservation of these soft-bodied creatures makes them highly prized by collectors. Some of our selected slabs feature multiple individuals, offering a wonderful multi-specimen display.
At a Glance
Type
Genuine fossil
Display
Best displayed flat in a presentation case or supported on a small, discreet plate stand.
About This Fossil
This genuine fossil shrimp, Carpopenaeus callirostris, offers a captivating glimpse into a prehistoric marine world. Sourced from the famous deposits of Hakel, Lebanon, these specimens are preserved as delicate, flattened impressions within a pale cream limestone matrix. The fossilised shrimp typically measure a few centimetres in length, contrasting subtly against the stone in shades of brown, reddish-brown, or grey, showing the segmented abdomen, robust anterior, and sometimes even the delicate appendages of these ancient decapods.
Several of these pieces are particularly evocative, displaying multiple specimens or additional partial impressions on a single slab or its reverse side. These natural groupings hint at the sheer abundance of life in the warm, shallow seas of the Cretaceous. It is a wonderful opportunity to own a highly detailed, authentic representative of ancient marine life from one of the world's premier fossil localities.
Formation & Preservation
These fossils are preserved within the fine-grained limestone of the Sannine Formation, dating to the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous. During this period, what is now Lebanon lay beneath the warm, tropical waters of the ancient Tethys Ocean. Exceptionally quiet, oxygen-depleted conditions on the seafloor allowed delicate organic structures—which would normally decay or be scavenged—to be rapidly covered by fine carbonate muds, resulting in exquisite preservation.
What Makes This Specimen Special
While Lebanese fossil fish are world-famous, delicate crustaceans like Carpopenaeus are much scarcer. The exceptional preservation of these soft-bodied creatures makes them highly prized by collectors. Some of our selected slabs feature multiple individuals, offering a wonderful multi-specimen display.
Authenticity & Sourcing
Real vs Replica
- This is a genuine fossil — not a replica unless clearly stated. Clearly described and honestly presented.
- You will receive the exact specimen you select.
Ethical Sourcing
- Sourced from established suppliers and known commercial sites. We do not buy from localities we know to be protected, scientifically restricted, or subject to export controls. Origin and sourcing information is shared where known.
- ✓We will not knowingly handle specimens removed in breach of any country's heritage or export laws.
Origin & Natural Variation
Stated origin (Hakel, Lebanon) and formation (Sannine Formation) are based on supplier information and available geological references. Identification can vary in certainty — especially for fragments — so where exact locality cannot be independently verified, we describe the formation rather than a single quarry.
Fossils are natural objects. Expect minor variation in colour, surface texture, and matrix, mineralisation and surface detail. Treatment information is shown under Condition & Treatment where it is recorded. “Not recorded” means we hold no verified record for that detail; it is not a claim that no treatment occurred.
Read our full authenticity & honest descriptions policy or the authenticity & sourcing clause in our terms.
Shipping, Returns & Packaging
• UK shipping: Free on orders of £50 or more. Standard £4.95 (Royal Mail Tracked 48, typically 2–3 working days after dispatch).
• International: Available worldwide. Rates at checkout.
• Packaging: Individually wrapped, cushioned, and boxed. Fragile specimens receive extra protection.
• Dispatch: Within 2 working days (framed, mounted, or made-to-order pieces take 1 additional working day).
• Returns: 30-day returns. Contact us first. Item must be in original condition.