Natural History - Cretaceous Fossil Reef Shark

LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD, CIRCA 96-95 MILLION YEARS B.P.

32 in. (26 3/4 x 50 1/4 in.) (40.1 kg total, shark: 81 cm (68 x 127.5 cm)).

A rare complete example of Paratriakis curtirostris within micritic matrix, displaying the spine, fins and tail with visible fin supports; the head with a number of teeth in situ; mounted in a custom-made wooden frame with a textured insert.

Provenance

Found Haqel, Lebanon.
Ex Fine Fossils, UK.
From the private collection of Mr J.G., a company executive.
Studied by the University of Manchester, UK.

Accompanied by an original signed handwritten note from Sir David Attenborough, 7 November 2022, which reads 'Dear J[ ] G[ ], You are indeed lucky to have such a spectacular fossil. Best wishes, David Attenborough'.
Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Fine Fossils with certificate no.COLL011.
Accompanied by a detailed geological report by Paul Goodrich.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12091-214455.

Footnotes

Paratriakis curtirostris was a resident in the shallows of the Tethys Ocean, which separated Africa, Europe, Indo-Australia and Asia. The genus is now extinct, but has a relative in the modern-day dogfish Triakis.

CONDITION

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LOT 0442