PREVIEW

An incredibly rare ancient shark fossil has gone up for auction. The fossil contains the skeleton of a small reef shark that swam our seas 96 million years ago. The Cretaceous-era fossil, measuring just 81 centimetres in length, represents a rare intact specimen of Paratriakis curtirostris, showcasing the spine, fins, and tail with remarkable clarity. Discovered in Haqel, Lebanon, the specimen originates from the private collection of a British company executive. It has been scrutinised by the University of Manchester and is accompanied by a letter from a distinguished British naturalist, who described it as ‘A spectacular fossil’. The fossil is expected to generate bidding interest ranging from £20,000 to £30,000 at the Timeline Auctions event on March 5th.