4.2" Fossil Coccodus (Crusher Fish) - Lebanon

This is a 4.2" long example of Coccodus insignis also known as a crusher fish. It has small moliform teeth in it's mouth which would have allowed it to easily crush the shells of small mollusks and crustaceans it found while searching the mud. There is no repair, restoration or color enhancement on this very unusual fish fossil.

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.