In Depth Bearing a strong resemblance to the much better known Enchodus, Veridagon is a genus of predatory fish that lived during the late Cretaceous. The name Veridagon translates as ‘true Dagon’, and was picked because the name Dagon by itself had already been used for a genus of butterfly. Anyone familiar with the works … Read more
In Depth The broad range of fossils discovered around the world suggests that the bony fish Xiphactinus had a cosmopolitan distribution. A comparable similar fish with regards to appearance is the modern day Tarpon. Although Tarpon are not related to the ancient Xiphactinus, their streamlined bodies and strongly upturned mouths bear a striking resemblence. One … Read more
In Depth Like with relative genera such as Gillicus and Xiphactinus, Ichthyodectes would have been a key predator in the waters of the Western Interior Seaway, the shallow sea that submerged the central portion of North America during the Cretaceous. Ichthyodectes had a long body similar to that of a modern day barracuda and was … Read more
In Depth Pycnodus have deep bodies with greatly reduced pectoral and pelvic fins, altogether suggesting a slow swimming lifestyle. The name Pycnodus is derived from the batteries of grinding teeth within the mouth which would have been very efficient at processing shelled molluscs, small crustaceans and echinoderms (urchins and starfish). The broad temporal and geographic … Read more
In Depth For all intents and purposes Lepidotes was like a Mesozoic carp that was very common in the old world waterways of Eurasia as well as North Africa. Like todays carp Lepidotes was a suction feeder that sucked morsels of food and small prey into its mouth, something it was able to do because … Read more
In Depth Saurodon is a genus of Carnivorous fish that swam in the world’s oceans during the Late Cretaceous. Saurodon had a long and slender body similar to the modern day barracuda. Also like a barracuda, the lower jaw of Saurodon projected in front of the upper, though in Saurodon this projection was far more … Read more
In Depth Jinanichthys was a small fish that lived in China during the early Cretaceous. Remains of Jinanichthys have been found inside a specimen of the early Cretaceous bird Confuciusornis, indicating that Jinanichthys were at least occasional prey for these birds. Further Reading - Jura-Cretaceous ichthyofaunas from Sankeyushu section of Tonghoa, Jilin - F.-Z. Ma … Read more
In Depth Platysomus had a very deep body with a reduced tail and quite small pectoral fins, all indicators that fish of this genus were slow swimmers. Despite this, Platysomus was a highly successful genus, a statement that is easily backed up just by looking at the broad temporal and geographic ranges of the known … Read more
In Depth Bonnerichthys is a genus of very large filter feeding fish that lived during the Late Cretaceous. By becoming a filter feeder of plankton, Bonnerichthys had access to a near limitless supply of food, while expending very little energy in gathering it, meaning that more calories could go into building and maintaining a large … Read more
In Depth Today fish under the Lampris genus (a.k.a. moonfish, opah, Jerusalem haddock, kingfish and cravo) are known for their deep round bodies, brilliant sheen to their scales and the fact that they can easily grow up to two meters in length. Then in 2006 a fossil relative of the Lampris was named, and comparison … Read more