Ichthyodectes ctenodon
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Ichthyodectes ctenodon Fossil range: Late Cretaceous |
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Ichthyodectes ctenodon |
Ichthyodectes ctenodon ("Fish Biter (with) Comb Teeth") was a 4-meter long ichthyodectid. It lived in the Western Interior Seaway during the late Cretaceous. It was closely related to the 4 to 6 meter long Xiphactinus audax, and the 2-meter long Gillicus arcuatus, and like other ichthyodectids, I. ctenodon is presumed to have been a swift predator of smaller fish. As its species name suggests, I. ctenodon had small, uniformly sized teeth, as did its smaller relative, G. arcuatus, and may have simply sucked suitably sized prey into its mouth.