Description: Here is a fine shark fossil from the Cretaceous sublithographic limestone deposits of Lebanon. Since most of the skeleton of a shark is cartilage, preservation of such details as seen here are uncommon. The fins and basic body outline have also been preserved in wonderful detail. Notice the rough nature of the skin, the result of preservation of some of the denticles (‘little teeth”). Many cartilaginous fish have denticles in the skin; indeed, true teeth may have evolved from them in the dim past. The denticles of sharks are quite abrasive; sharkskin (shagreen) has been used by some as a substitute for sandpaper. The genus is extinct, but has a relative in the modern-day dogfish Triakis. While there are several repaired cracks to the matrix, they detract little from this fine specimen, offered here at an affordable price.