In Depth A smaller relative of the fearsome Xiphactinus, Thrissops would have still been a fearsome predator of smaller fish. The tail is deeply forked with the upper and lower lobes roughly equal in proportion to one another, a clear sign that the tail was capable of tremendous bursts of speed. It’s possible that Thrissops … Read more
In Depth Gillicus was related to another Cretaceous bony fish, Xiphactinus, and with it shared a streamlined body with a strongly upturned mouth. These characteristic features have led both fish to be compared to the modern day Tarpon, although neither of them are actually related to it. Gillicus had several small sharp teeth in its … 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 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