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ICHTHYODECTES
(ik-fee-o-dek-tees)
Ichthyodectes
Named By: Edward Drinker Cope in 1870
Time Period: Unavailable
Location: Canada, Manitoba - Vermilion River Formation, Saskatchewan - Ashville Formation. USA, Alabama - Mooreville Chalk Formation, Texas - Eagle Ford Formation, Wyoming - Pierre Shale Formation
Size: Up to 4 meters long
Diet: Piscivore/Carnivore
Fossil(s): Many individuals
Classification: | Chordata | Actinopterygii | Ichthyodectidae | Ichthyodectinae |
About

Ichthyodectes ctenodon ("Fish Biter (with) Comb Teeth") was a 4-metre long ichthyodectid. It lived in the Western Interior Seaway of North America 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.

Read more about Ichthyodectes at Wikipedia
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