| Ichthyodectes | |
|---|---|
| 2.Ichthyodectes ctenodon | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Superorder: | Osteoglossomorpha |
| Order: | Ichthyodectiformes |
| Family: | Ichthyodectidae |
| Subfamily: | Ichthyodectinae |
| Genus: | Ichthyodectes Cope, 1870 |
| Species: | I. ctenodon |
| Binomial name | |
| Ichthyodectes ctenodon |
|
Ichthyodectes ctenodon ("Fish Biter (with) Comb Teeth") was a 4-metre long ichthyodectid. It lived in the Western Interior Seaway during the late Cretaceous. It was closely related to the 4 to 6 metre long Xiphactinus audax, and the 2-metre 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.