12" Guitar Ray (Rhinobatos) Fossil - Lebanon

This is a exquisitely preserved and quite rare "Guitar Ray" (Rhinobatos whitfieldi) from the Upper Cretaceous deposits new Byblos, Lebanon. This specimen is 12" long which is about average size for the species and exhibits wonderful preservation with even the eyes clearly visible. It's centered on a rectangular slab of matrix and while there is a repaired crack there is otherwise no restoration or color enhancement.

The genus Rhinobatos still exists in our seas, in the tropical and hot temperate regions, and includes about 30 present day. There are eight described species of Rhinobatos from the Lebonese deposits with Rhinobatos whitfieldi being one of the smaller ones.

The Upper Cretaceous, Lebonese lagerstätten yields some of the most exquisitely preserved fossil fish in the world. Over 80 genre are currently described, with many more still awaiting description. These beautiful fossils have been quarried near Byblos, Lebanon for well over a century and include sharks, rays, shrimp, ray-finned fishes and more.

I've including some photos of the quarry in the photo set.